At $3,236/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,236 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Valley Stream changed +1.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 82 New York cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($133,190) is $3,330 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,175); a 4-bedroom is $3,405.
Guttenberg, NJ, 18 miles away, rents for 25% less ($2,436/mo), about $9,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Valley Stream. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Valley Stream, NY is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 39.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Valley Stream, NY has changed in 5 years
Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $115,602 in 2021 to $133,190 more recently. About 21.3% of households rent today, against 18.7% in 2021.
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At $3,236/mo, how Valley Stream rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Valley Stream rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Valley Stream. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Valley Stream
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Valley Stream is $3,236/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,935/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,450/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,150/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,175/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($133,190/yr), Valley Stream ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Valley Stream?
At $3,236/mo, rent takes ~29% of Valley Stream's median household income ($133,190/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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