Fort Drum, NY vs Valley Stream, NY

The cost of living difference between Fort Drum, NY and Valley Stream, NY is dramatic. Fort Drum is 30.3% cheaper than Valley Stream, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fort Drum has a cost index of 104 while Valley Stream sits at 150, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

Renters will find that Fort Drum has a median rent of $1,563/month while Valley Stream comes in at $1,994/month, a 22% difference.

Median household income in Fort Drum is $63,194 compared to $127,426 in Valley Stream (-50.4%). While Valley Stream is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Drum spend roughly 29.7% of their income on rent, more than the 18.8% in Valley Stream.