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Living in
Elmira.
About
Life in Elmira
Living in Elmira means settling into an affordable city with a real manufacturing foundation—not just a nostalgic one. You'll find median home values around $93,000 and median rents near $909, which is genuinely low-cost living. The job market is stable with 4.7% unemployment and employers like Hardinge, Kennedy Valve, and CAF-USA offering skilled manufacturing and engineering work, though white-collar opportunities are limited compared to larger metros.
Elmira at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
30.2%
Foreign-Born
3.7%
Broadband Internet
86.6%
of households
Population Growth
-1.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.7% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Elmira: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Elmira, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (9.9%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.7%
of households
Married Couples
30.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 44% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Elmira
In Elmira, rent runs 44% below the NY average, and home values are 78% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
34.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
94.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,918
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
16.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $133,827 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above NY average
Unemployment in Elmira
Unemployment in Elmira is 0.4 percentage points higher than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Elmira Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.7 min avg
How Elmira residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Elmira, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Elmira Corning Regional Airport (ELM)
Regional airport · few flights106k passengers boarded in 2025
- 115 mi
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 116% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Elmira runs 116% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
712.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,500.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Elmira Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
54.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Chemung County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Chemung County, which includes Elmira, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $92,500 |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $42,000 |
| 2023 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $14,000 |
| 2022 | 9 | Heavy Snow | $10,550 |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $39,400 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $85,000 |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $115,000 |
| 2018 | 10 | Flash Flood | $360,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Chemung County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bradford County, PA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 26 miles from Elmira) is typically good — 283 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
283
per year
Moderate Days
62
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Bradford County, PA (26 mi away)
Climate82°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Elmira has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.4"
Annual Snowfall
41.8"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
151
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
147
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 16°F | 2.12" |
| Feb | 36°F | 17°F | 1.86" |
| Mar | 45°F | 23°F | 2.73" |
| Apr | 59°F | 33°F | 3.26" |
| May | 71°F | 44°F | 3.10" |
| Jun | 79°F | 54°F | 4.19" |
| Jul | 84°F | 58°F | 4.05" |
| Aug | 82°F | 57°F | 3.82" |
| Sep | 75°F | 50°F | 4.09" |
| Oct | 62°F | 39°F | 3.53" |
| Nov | 49°F | 30°F | 2.73" |
| Dec | 39°F | 23°F | 2.59" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Elmira
Elmira has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Arnot Ogden Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Arnot Ogden Medical Center · 600 Roe Avenue
- Hospital campus: Saint Joseph's Hospital · 555 Saint Josephs Blvd, Elmira
- Outpatient center: Arnot Health Walk-In Care · 100 John Roemmelt Dr, Horseheads
- Outpatient center: Arnot Health Walk-In Care · 68 Colonial Drive, Suite 100, Horseheads
Elmira Psych Center
Psychiatric
- Main campus: Elmira Psych Center · Washington St
- Hospital campus: Elmira Psychiatric Center · 100 Washington St, Elmira
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Corning Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Corning
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education13.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Elmira
Elmira's student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Elmira
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 708 students · in-state tuition $39,760 · 60% graduate · median earnings $63,320 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Women's Rights National Historical Park, 56 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Elmira
Elmira has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Women's Rights National Historical Park (56 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Women's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
56 mi awayHarriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
58 mi awaySteamtown National Historic Site
National Historic Site
75 mi awayUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
Scenic & Recreational River
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Elmira
Steele Memorial Library
101 E Church Street, Elmira
Cities Near Elmira
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Elmira?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Elmira FAQ
Is Elmira, New York affordable?⌄
Elmira's median rent is $909/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $43,120/year. Median home value is $93,000.
Is Elmira, New York safe?⌄
Elmira's violent crime rate was 713 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4501 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Elmira, New York?⌄
Elmira has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Elmira, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Elmira is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $909/month and median household income is $43,120/year. The median home value is $93,000. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Elmira, New York?⌄
The average commute in Elmira is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from