The Town FilesElmira, New York
City in Chemung County · population 26,523 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,000
- Household income
- $43,120
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 36.5
Elmira is a city of 26,523 people in Chemung County, New York. The median home is worth $93,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of New York towns, more walkable than 93% of New York towns, hipper than 89% of New York towns.
How Elmira 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 Elmira is worth $93,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $43,120, which is more affordable than 76% of New York towns. Median rent is $909 a month. 50.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elmira | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $909 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $43,120 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 50.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Elmira
| People | Elmira | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Elmira
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 38.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmira since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 2, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 6, 2012.
Severe weather in Chemung County since 1996
Chemung County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2018 | Flood | DR-4397: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 13, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4031: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Chemung County
Chemung County had 33,739 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,216 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Elmira itself the ACS puts it at 9.9%.
Public schools in Elmira
11 public schools with 5,032 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELMIRA HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 1,255 | 20.9 |
| ERNIE DAVIS ACADEMY | 7-8 | 797 | 12.3 |
| BROADWAY ACADEMY | 9-9 | 413 | 11.8 |
| PARLEY COBURN SCHOOL | 3-6 | 410 | 13.2 |
| FINN ACADEMY: AN ELMIRA CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-6 | 394 | 12.3 |
| HENDY AVENUE SCHOOL | 3-6 | 381 | 15.9 |
| RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY | PK-2 | 377 | 18.0 |
| BROADWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-6 | 363 | 15.1 |
| DIVEN SCHOOL | PK-2 | 329 | 15.0 |
| FASSETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 305 | 14.5 |
| ELMIRA PSYCHIATRIC CENTER | 6-12 | 8 | — |
Towns near Elmira
- Elmira, NY1.6 mi · 6,848 people · home $187,900
- West Elmira, NY1.8 mi · 4,850 people · home $198,300
- Southport, NY2.1 mi · 6,782 people · home $107,900
- Elmira Heights, NY2.4 mi · 3,916 people · home $104,800
- Southport, NY4.6 mi · 9,691 people · home $123,200
- Horseheads, NY4.7 mi · 19,374 people · home $159,000
- Horseheads, NY5.3 mi · 6,606 people · home $141,400
- Big Flats, NY6.2 mi · 7,791 people · home $218,500
Elmira questions
Is Elmira, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elmira scores better for retirees than 4% of New York towns and quieter than 10%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Elmira?
The median owner-occupied home in Elmira is valued at $93,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,120, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $909 a month.
What is the weather like in Elmira?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.1 inches of precipitation a year and 41.8 inches of snow.
Does Elmira get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmira since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 2, 1983. 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)