Compare towns
Baldwin vs Freeport vs Wallkill vs Valley Stream
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baldwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+41.1%).
Freeport has the youngest population (median age 40).
Wallkill has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Valley Stream has the most people working from home (12.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Baldwin | Freeport | Wallkill | Valley Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,994 |
44,088Highest |
31,023Lowest |
40,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +41.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+11.2% NY: +4.2% |
+8.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±1.1 3% above NY |
40±1.6Lowest about the NY average |
41.2±2.2Highest 4% above NY |
40.9±1.3 about the NY average |
| Wallkill and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2Highest NY: 20.5% |
20%±1.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±2.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Baldwin and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.1%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Baldwin and Valley Stream are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28% NY: 40.2% |
39.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.6%±1.5 NY: 7% |
5.6%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
7.8%±1.5 NY: 7% |
8.7%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Valley Stream and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,472±$9kHighest 69% above NY |
$120,625±$11k 40% above NY |
$96,076±$4kLowest 12% above NY |
$133,190±$13k 55% above NY |
| Baldwin and Valley Stream are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $593,800±$12k 40% above NY |
$505,900±$20k 19% above NY |
$353,200±$13kLowest 17% below NY |
$616,100±$10kHighest 45% above NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,890±$203 17% above NY |
$2,077±$169 28% above NY |
$1,790±$80Lowest 10% above NY |
$2,124±$227Highest 31% above NY |
| Valley Stream and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$6,623Lowest about the NY average |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±7.3 NY: 52.1% |
52.1%±12Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52.8%±8.1 NY: 52.1% |
54.7%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Valley Stream and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% NY: 14% |
7.4% NY: 14% |
11%Highest NY: 14% |
5.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
70.9% NY: 54.3% |
64.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
78.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY |
1953 6 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1951 8 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 21% above NY |
36 min 10% above NY |
31 minLowest 5% below NY |
41 minHighest 25% above NY |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
9.8%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
12.4%±2.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Valley Stream and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #476 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · PINE BUSH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.