Compare towns
Baldwin vs Valley Stream vs Carmel
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%).
Valley Stream has the most renters (21.3% rent).
Carmel has the most affordable homes ($495k median).
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 | Valley Stream | Carmel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,994 |
40,315Highest |
33,837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +41.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+8.3% NY: +4.2% |
-2.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±1.1 3% above NY |
40.9±1.3Lowest about the NY average |
44.3±1.5Highest 11% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±2.1 NY: 20.5% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest 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%±1.4 NY: 17.9% |
17.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.8%±1.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Carmel and Baldwin 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% |
43.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.6%±1.5 NY: 7% |
8.7%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
6.8%±1.5Lowest 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±$13k 55% above NY |
$131,835±$10kLowest 53% 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 |
$616,100±$10kHighest 45% above NY |
$495,100±$17kLowest 17% above NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,890±$203 17% above NY |
$2,124±$227Highest 31% above NY |
$1,683±$148Lowest 4% 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 |
$10,000+ at least 52% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±7.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.7%±10.5 NY: 52.1% |
68.1%±27.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Carmel and Valley Stream 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% NY: 14% |
4.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
78.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY |
1951 8 yrs older than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minLowest 21% above NY |
41 min 25% above NY |
41 minHighest 26% above NY |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.4%±2.2 NY: 14.9% |
13.9%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Carmel and Valley Stream 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 | — | — | #61 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | CARMEL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · MAHOPAC CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.