Spring Valley’s overall cost of living is about 27% higher than the national average. Housing costs are the biggest factor – Spring Valley’s housing index is 162 (62% above the U.S. average). Groceries (5% higher), healthcare (10% higher), and utilities (31% higher) also exceed nationwide norms.

While Spring Valley is more affordable than New York City, it remains costlier than the U.S. average due to high demand and proximity to the NYC metro area. A family or professional moving to Spring Valley should plan for expenses to be a bit higher than the U.S. norm but significantly lower than living in New York City proper.

Demographics

College friendliness: 77.65
Family friendliness: 31.84
Young singles appeal: 49.52
Retirement friendliness: 14.49
First-time homebuyer friendliness: 10.98
Vacation home appeal: 0.00

Spring Valley demonstrates high appeal for college students, suggesting accessible educational opportunities or amenities attractive to students. However, it scores notably low in family friendliness, retirement friendliness, and first-time homebuyer friendliness, indicating potential challenges in affordability or community infrastructure targeted at these groups. The absence of vacation home appeal underlines the predominantly residential, non-touristic nature of this community.

Lifestyle

Luxury living: 33.26
Hip & trendy factor: 53.11
Quietness: 8.74
Nautical/boating lifestyle: 0.00
Urban sophistication: 35.98
Walkability: 84.59
Car friendliness: 61.61
Cycling friendliness: 0.00
Vibrancy/liveliness: 68.11
Public transit friendliness: 63.44

Spring Valley offers excellent walkability and a lively atmosphere, suggesting a compact urban environment with easy pedestrian access to amenities. Moderate scores in hip & trendy appeal and public transit friendliness support the community’s moderately vibrant character. However, the town scores very low in quietness, luxury living, and cycling friendliness, reflecting a possibly noisy urban environment lacking upscale amenities and cycling infrastructure. The absence of a nautical lifestyle aligns with its inland location.

Housing Market

Median Home Prices Over Time, Spring Valley, NY — Home Stratosphere | Zillow Home Values Index

Median home prices in Spring Valley experienced a downturn from 2010 to 2013, reflecting market instability during those years. A robust recovery began in 2014, marked by significant price increases from 2015 through 2022, notably a dramatic rise of over 12% in 2021. A slight market correction occurred in 2024, but prices stabilized again by 2025. Overall, Spring Valley’s housing market indicates periods of rapid growth interspersed with minor fluctuations, suggesting volatility but also significant investment potential during peak growth periods.

YoY home price changes, Spring Valley, NY — Home Stratosphere | Zillow Home Values Index

Property Taxes

Property taxes are another key consideration. The effective property tax rate in Rockland County is about 1.89% of a home’s value, higher than the state average. For a $500,000 house, that could mean $9,000–$10,000 per year in property taxes.

New York State offers a STAR exemption for owner-occupied primary residences, which can slightly reduce school tax for eligible homeowners.

Housing Types

Spring Valley has diverse housing stock including single-family houses (often Cape Cod or ranch styles), multi-family properties, townhouses, and condominiums. New construction within the village proper is limited due to built-out land.

Many Spring Valley houses date from the 1950s–1970s and might require updating. Despite the relatively high prices, homeownership in Spring Valley is low – only about 25–26% of housing units are owner-occupied – indicating that most people rent.

Homes in Spring Valley tend to stay on the market about 2.5 months on average (77 days, compared to a 46-day national average).

Rental Market

The rental market is very active with a majority of Spring Valley residents renting. The median rent (for all units) is about $1,673 per month, higher than the U.S. median gross rent (~$1,150) and even above the New York State median.

As of early 2025, the average asking rent for available units is around $1,700–$1,800 per month. This is on par with national urban averages but significantly lower than rents in New York City, where the average rent is about $2,800.

Housing options include garden-style apartment complexes, small multi-unit buildings, and units in converted homes. A typical 1-bedroom apartment might rent in the $1,500–$1,800 range depending on condition and location. Two-bedroom apartments often fall in the $1,800–$2,200 range.

Spring Valley’s vacancy rate tends to be low, making it a landlord’s market. Prospective renters should be prepared with deposit money and references.

New rental developments are limited, but there has been some construction of affordable housing and senior housing in recent years. The area’s growing population (over 33,000 people in 2 square miles) means high tenant demand.

Crime and Safety Profile

Spring Valley has moderate to somewhat elevated crime rates compared to national averages. The village sees about 23 reported crimes per 1,000 residents annually, equating to roughly a 1 in 44 chance each year of being a victim of any crime. This places Spring Valley as less safe than about 54% of U.S. cities.

Most incidents are property crimes (theft, burglary, etc.) rather than violent offenses. The violent crime rate is around 4 per 1,000 residents (approximately a 1 in 277 chance annually).

CrimeGrade.org gives the village a safety grade of C+, essentially middle-of-the-pack nationally. Within the village, crime isn’t uniform: western neighborhoods tend to be safer while southeast areas see higher incident rates.

Rockland County as a whole is known for being one of the safer counties in the nation, and Spring Valley benefits from county resources aimed at crime prevention. By practicing common-sense safety measures, residents generally feel reasonably secure.

Local Amenities

Despite its small size, Spring Valley offers various amenities. Spring Valley Memorial Park serves as a community hub with an outdoor pool, tennis courts, football/soccer field, and basketball courts. The Parks and Recreation Department runs a Community Center offering youth programs, sports leagues, and fitness classes.

Larger county parks like Kennedy Dells Park (New City) and Kakiat Park are within a 15-minute drive. The expansive Harriman State Park and Bear Mountain are about 30–40 minutes away, providing extensive hiking, boating, and camping opportunities.

Dining and Shopping

Spring Valley’s dining scene reflects its diverse community with international cuisines including Caribbean, Latin American, West African, and kosher options. Popular spots include Portuguese churrasqueira BBQ, Dominican and Mexican restaurants, and specialty bakeries.

For shopping, the Spring Valley Marketplace on Route 59 is the main shopping center, featuring groceries, big-box retailers, and specialty shops. For larger shopping trips, residents often visit the Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack (15 minutes away) or the Shops at Nanuet (4 miles away).

Entertainment Options

The Town of Ramapo Cultural Arts Center hosts community theater productions, movie nights, and cultural events throughout the year. The village also organizes seasonal events like summer outdoor concerts and an annual street fair.

Nyack village center (15 minutes east) offers art galleries, live music venues, and the Nyack Street Fair. Sports leagues and youth programs are available through the Parks & Recreation department and local community organizations.

Transportation and Commuting

Spring Valley’s location is convenient for commuters. The village is approximately 28–30 miles northwest of Manhattan and sits near major highways including the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) and the Garden State Parkway.

Driving to Midtown Manhattan typically takes 45 minutes to 1 hour off-peak but can exceed an hour during rush hour.

Public transit options include:

NJ Transit/Metro-North Pascack Valley Line train with connections to New York Penn Station via Secaucus Junction (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes total journey)
Express commuter buses from the Spring Valley Park & Ride to Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan (about 1 hour 20 minutes)
Transport of Rockland (TOR) buses connecting to other parts of Rockland County

Within Spring Valley itself, most people use cars for local errands, though the downtown area around Main Street and the train station is walkable.

For air travel, Westchester County Airport is about 30–40 minutes away, while Newark Liberty and LaGuardia airports are about 1 hour away.

Tax Considerations

New York’s tax environment requires planning. Residents face several layers of taxation:

Sales tax in Rockland County is 8.375% on most goods (combining the New York State base rate of 4%, the county’s 4%, and a small MTA region surcharge of 0.375%)
Property taxes in Rockland County rank among the highest in the U.S. (effective rate of roughly 1.8–2.0% of assessed value)
New York State income tax ranges from 4% to 10.9% depending on income bracket
No separate city income taxes in Spring Valley (unlike NYC)

Additional considerations include a small transit district surcharge as part of sales tax and state fuel taxes that make gasoline prices higher than average.

Job Market

Spring Valley’s economy connects to the broader New York metropolitan area. Many residents commute to jobs in New York City, Westchester, or northern New Jersey.

Within Spring Valley and Rockland County, key employment sectors include:

Healthcare and social assistance (27% of workers)
Retail trade (16%)
Educational services (11%)
Professional/technical services (10%)
Manufacturing (9%)

Major local employers include Good Samaritan Hospital (Suffern), Montefiore Nyack Hospital, the county government, and large retailers.

As of late 2024, Rockland County’s unemployment rate was about 2.9%, among the lowest in New York State. The median household income in Spring Valley is around $56,000 (lower than the New York State median).

Education

Spring Valley is served by the East Ramapo Central School District, which includes 14 public schools. The main public high schools are Spring Valley High School and Ramapo High School (in Chestnut Ridge).

The district faces unique challenges. A large portion of the community attends private schools (particularly yeshivas serving the Orthodox Jewish community), which has impacted public school resources and governance, leading to state oversight.

Academic performance in East Ramapo public schools has been below state averages, with about 22% of elementary students scoring proficient in reading and 17% in math. The high schools have graduation rates in the 70-75% range, below the New York State average of ~85%.

Alternative education options include private religious schools (Catholic academies, Jewish yeshivas), independent schools, charter or magnet schools, and BOCES programs for career or technical education.

Healthcare

Spring Valley residents have good access to healthcare. Within the village, facilities include Refuah Health Center (a federally qualified health center providing comprehensive services), private medical practices, and urgent care clinics.

Nearby hospitals include:

Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern (5 miles west) – a 286-bed facility with emergency department, surgery, maternity, and specialty care
Montefiore Nyack Hospital (15 minutes east) – a 391-bed acute care hospital with stroke center and emergency services

Specialized care is available at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla (25 miles away) or in NYC’s world-class hospitals.

The healthcare infrastructure is robust, with nursing homes, physical therapy centers, home health services, and several pharmacies available locally.

Comparison with NYC and White Plains

Cost Comparison

Spring Valley offers significant savings over NYC:

Average home price in Spring Valley (mid-$500Ks) is roughly half the median in Manhattan or Brooklyn
Spring Valley’s ~$1,700 average rent contrasts with Manhattan’s median rent around $4,500 for a one-bedroom
Spring Valley residents don’t pay NYC’s local income tax

White Plains (20 miles east) provides a middle ground with a median home sale price around $670,000 and rents averaging ~$2,500 for a 2-bedroom.

Lifestyle Differences

Spring Valley offers more space and easier parking than NYC but lacks the same walkable access to amenities. White Plains has a more vibrant downtown, many corporate offices, and a direct 35-minute train to Grand Central.

Spring Valley is smaller and more residential than White Plains, which has high-rises and more nightlife options. For late-night entertainment or high-end shopping, Spring Valley residents typically travel to the city or White Plains.

Schools

White Plains has its own well-regarded public school district with somewhat lower property tax rates than Rockland. NYC has a mix of school quality with some excellent schools but often complicated admissions processes.

Climate

Spring Valley has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons:

Summer

Summers are warm, humid, and wet with July’s average high around 83°F and lows around 65°F. Thunderstorms are common, and the warm season runs from late May to mid-September.

Winter

Winters are cold and snowy. January’s average high is only 36°F with lows around 22°F. Spring Valley receives about 30 inches of snow annually, with the snow season typically running from November through early April.

Spring and Fall

Autumn brings beautiful foliage peaking in late October. Fall days in September and October are mild (60s-70s°F) with cool nights. Spring is variable – March remains chilly, but by April, temperatures reach the 60s°F with blooming trees.

The area is partly cloudy year-round with precipitation spread fairly evenly (~3–4 inches most months).

Infrastructure

Walking around Spring Valley NY — Shutterstock

Walkability

Parts of Spring Valley, especially downtown around Main Street, are quite walkable (scoring around 51/100 on Walk Score). Residential neighborhoods may have fewer sidewalks, making a car more necessary.

Public infrastructure like sidewalks, street lighting, and road maintenance is generally decent on main roads, though smaller residential streets may show wear.

Utilities and Services

Spring Valley has public water and sewer service, twice-weekly trash collection, and community facilities like the Finkelstein Memorial Library and Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center.

Internet Connectivity

High-speed internet is widely available through multiple providers:

Optimum (Altice) offers fiber-optic service with speeds up to 1 Gbps
Verizon Fios fiber is available to most addresses
5G home internet from T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless provides additional options

Cell phone coverage is strong across all major carriers. Electricity and gas come from Orange & Rockland Utilities, and water is supplied by SUEZ Water.

Thinking of Moving to Spring Valley, NY? Find Out What Life Is Like In This Secluded Town

Demographics

Lifestyle