Suburbia with city conveniences on the edge of Queens
The Village of Valley Stream’s history is a simple one. It began as farmland, but as its population grew and New York City crept ever outward, fields gave way to suburban streets and little shopping districts. Today, Valley Stream is a densely populated suburb in Nassau County, right at the edge of Queens. It’s also a major transportation hub, with a Long Island Rail Road station and easy highway access heading in almost any direction. “It still has a small-town feel, but you have all the larger town amenities. It’s a great place to live,” says Julie Calabrese, a licensed real estate salesperson at HomeSmart Premier Living Realty. She’s sold homes here for seven years with her partner, Dan Coscia, who grew up in Valley Stream. Like many smaller towns, there are people who have lived in Valley Stream for decades — even generations — but it’s the area’s city conveniences and good schools that draw new residents. “I wanted to buy a house in Valley Stream because I wanted to be close to the city. ... I still do business in Brooklyn and also the boroughs,” says Femi Adebanjo, an associate real estate broker at Keller Williams Legendary who has lived and sold in the Valley Stream area for nearly 25 years. “So I needed the proximity to be able to get back and forth ... but also a good school district for the kids. Those two things were really important to me.”
Valley Stream’s status as a transportation hub means residents can work in a wide range of places and fields. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 32.1% of residents work in educational services, health care and social assistance. The Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital is about 2 miles from the village’s center, making it a big employer for those in health care. But there’s nearly a three-way tie between the other most common fields, which each employ just over 10% of residents: retail, finance, insurance and real estate, and professional, scientific and administrative services. Still more fields aren’t far behind, showing just how varied Valley Stream’s makeup is.
South Valley Stream embraces suburban lifestyle just a short drive from New York City.
The Valley Stream LIRR station is just a short trip away from the bustling New York City.
The Queens County Farm Museum hosts educational programs for hands on learning at the farm.
Find all of your healthcare and medical eeds with Long Island Jewish Valley Stream.
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Major highways, LIRR and bus routes
Sunrise Highway runs right through Valley Stream, and it takes just a couple of minutes to hop onto the Southern State Parkway or Belt Parkway. Within just minutes, residents can be headed in any direction. According to the Census, 21.2% of residents get to work on public transportation. For many, that’s the Long Island Rail Road; from Valley Stream station, it takes only about 30 minutes to reach Manhattan’s Penn Station. It’s these options that allow residents to work so many places. “People work on Long Island, they work in the city, they work in the boroughs,” Calabrese says. “Not just Manhattan, but Brooklyn, Queens — it’s a great spot if you’re commuting to anywhere in the five boroughs.”
Even within Valley Stream, public transportation makes getting around easy. According to Adebanjo, the N1, N4 and N6 buses run through the village. “The buses can take you anywhere from the Long Island Rail Road or they can take you into Jamaica, Queens,” he says. “But you can catch the E Train, the F train, the J and the Z. If you don’t drive, it’s not too much of an issue. There’s always a way to get around in Valley Stream without a car.” John F. Kennedy International Airport is just 5 miles away.
Suburban homes with small yards
Valley Stream has a dense suburban vibe. Sidewalks line both sides of the streets, and lots aren’t as roomy as they are in other parts of Nassau County. Most homes sit on just over a tenth of an acre, though it’s sometimes possible to find one on a quarter acre. There are also a few co-ops, like Gibson Gardens. The median home price is $678,000, which is higher than the national average of $416,700.
South Valley is an unincorporated hamlet in the Town of Hempstead on Long Island.
Tudor style homes are abundant in North Valley Stream and feature contemporary accents.
High Ranch style homes are often situated on small acre plots.
Find your cozy nook in the developments at Gibson Gardens in Valley Stream.
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Three elementary school districts, one district for middle and high school
Schools are another big draw for many Valley Stream residents. The village is split among three elementary school districts: Valley Stream Union Free School District No. 13, No. 24 and No. 30. All three districts, which teach kindergarten through sixth grade, get A ratings from Niche. For middle and high school, there’s the Valley Stream Central High School District, which gets an A and consists of just one middle school and one high school.
Welcome to Howell Road School, located in North Valley Stream.
James A. Dever School provides a safe and academically enriching environment.
According to state test scores, 57% of students are proficient in math and 62% in reading.
Valley Stream Central High School has 1,065 students in grades 10-12.
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Local shops and restaurants, Green Acres Mall
Boutiques and local restaurants are stretched along little sections of West Merrick Road and Rockaway Avenue. “They’re trying to bring back some of those smaller, local shops to kind of give it a city feel,” Adebanjo says. “And also a feel of Rockville Center, Lynbrook — some of those other towns. They’re always improving.” There are a wide range of cuisines available right in town, including Japanese, Caribbean and Italian. And while this section of town has little local shops and boutiques, Calabrese says that major retailers are also within reach at Green Acres Mall.
The Green Acres Mall in nearby Valley Stream offers convenient access to major retailers,
Jamaica Breeze in nearby Rosedale has buffet style dining with a Caribbean twist.
The Art of Wings in South Valley Stream offers a great option are for comfort food.
Target is among the various major retailers at the Green Acres Mall in nearby Valley Stream.
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Village green spaces and the Valley Stream State Park
“Valley Stream has a lot of outdoor space,” Adebanjo says. “If you weren’t familiar with Valley Stream, you may not know it. But when you start to explore and look around, you see that they have a lot for the kids and for families.” Arthur J. Hendrickson Park has a pond, athletic spaces and an outdoor pool, and the Village Green has a members-only dog park. Just north of the village, though, Adebanjo says the Valley Stream State Park has become synonymous with the village. At 97 acres, it offers athletic fields, picnic spots and hiking trails. Other playgrounds and athletic fields are scattered throughout the village.
Valley Stream Park offers volleyball fields.
Valley Stream State Park features a nearly 100-acre enchanted preserve with outdoor activities.
Go birdwatching in the green oasis at the Village Green Park in nearby Valley Stream.
Valley Stream has created a peaceful park where people can also go jogging.
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Independence Day fireworks, annual parades
Adebanjo says the Fourth of July brings one of Valley Stream’s biggest yearly events. Locals and visitors gather in Firemen’s Memorial Field to enjoy live music, bouncy houses and meals from food trucks before the fireworks kick off, soaring over a sea of picnic blankets. The village’s Memorial Day parade has also been a tradition for more than 100 years.
Hurricane season, crime rates on the decline
Even though Valley Stream is inland, hurricane season can still impact it. High winds are a major concern during these storms, but there’s only a minor risk of flooding. All four seasons also make full appearances in Valley Stream, and snow is commonplace during the winter.
In Nassau County as a whole, crime is on the decline. Comparing the first six and a half months of 2024 to those of 2023, overall crime dropped by nearly 15%. Valley Stream is served by Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct.
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