The Town FilesValley Cottage, New York
Community in Rockland County · population 9,038 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $544,100
- Household income
- $133,117
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 46.0
Valley Cottage is a community of 9,038 people in Rockland County, New York. The median home is worth $544,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better transit than 91% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 90% of New York towns.
How Valley Cottage ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Valley Cottage is worth $544,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $133,117, which is more affordable than 23% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,037 a month. 89.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valley Cottage | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $544,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,037 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $133,117 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Valley Cottage
| People | Valley Cottage | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 33.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Valley Cottage
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 23.1°F. About 51.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.0 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Cottage since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 12, 2006 about 5.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 2, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 8, 2021.
Severe weather in Rockland County since 1996
Rockland County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| October 2, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4567: Tropical Storm Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Rockland County
Rockland County had 138,317 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,814 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Valley Cottage itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Valley Cottage
2 public schools with 826 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 449 | 11.5 |
| VALLEY COTTAGE SCHOOL | K-5 | 377 | 10.5 |
Towns near Valley Cottage
- Clarkstown, NY1.7 mi · 86,855 people · home $602,100
- Bardonia, NY1.9 mi · 4,249 people · home $618,200
- West Nyack, NY2.1 mi · 3,649 people · home $558,100
- Nyack, NY2.1 mi · 7,265 people · home $628,200
- Congers, NY2.3 mi · 8,532 people · home $614,600
- Blauvelt, NY3.3 mi · 5,548 people · home $644,600
- New City, NY3.5 mi · 34,135 people · home $650,700
- Nanuet, NY4.0 mi · 18,886 people · home $532,500
Valley Cottage questions
Is Valley Cottage, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valley Cottage scores better for retirees than 52% of New York towns and quieter than 29%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Valley Cottage?
The median owner-occupied home in Valley Cottage is valued at $544,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $133,117, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $2,037 a month.
What is the weather like in Valley Cottage?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 23.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.2 inches of precipitation a year and 35.0 inches of snow.
Does Valley Cottage get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Cottage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 12, 2006. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)