What stands out worked out from the figures below

Baldwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+41.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Baldwin	Valley Stream
People
Population	34,994Lowest	40,315Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+41.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	+8.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41±1.1Highest 3% above NY	40.9±1.3Lowest about the NY average
	Baldwin and Valley Stream 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%	19.5%±2.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Baldwin and Valley Stream 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%	17.1%±1.9Lowest 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%	39.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.6%±1.5Lowest 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	$133,190±$13kLowest 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±$12kLowest 40% above NY	$616,100±$10kHighest 45% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,890±$203Lowest 17% above NY	$2,124±$227Highest 31% above NY
	Valley Stream and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±7.3Lowest 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%Highest NY: 14%	5.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY	1951Highest 8 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minLowest 21% above NY	41 minHighest 25% above NY
Work from home	10.8%±2.5Lowest 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.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.