The Town FilesElmira Heights, New York
Village in Chemung County · population 3,916 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $104,800
- Household income
- $58,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 42.1
Elmira Heights is a village of 3,916 people in Chemung County, New York. The median home is worth $104,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 88% of New York towns, more walkable than 80% of New York towns, more vibrant than 77% of New York towns.
How Elmira Heights 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 Heights is worth $104,800, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $58,125, which is more affordable than 91% of New York towns. Median rent is $851 a month. 52.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elmira Heights | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $851 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $58,125 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elmira Heights
| People | Elmira Heights | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Elmira Heights
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
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmira Heights since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 28, 2011 about 7.4 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 45 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 Heights itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Elmira Heights
3 public schools with 1,051 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COHEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 488 | 11.1 |
| THOMAS A EDISON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 311 | 12.4 |
| COHEN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 252 | 10.1 |
Towns near Elmira Heights
- Elmira, NY2.4 mi · 26,523 people · home $93,000
- West Elmira, NY2.8 mi · 4,850 people · home $198,300
- Horseheads, NY2.9 mi · 6,606 people · home $141,400
- Horseheads, NY3.2 mi · 19,374 people · home $159,000
- Elmira, NY3.2 mi · 6,848 people · home $187,900
- Southport, NY4.3 mi · 6,782 people · home $107,900
- Big Flats, NY4.6 mi · 7,791 people · home $218,500
- Horseheads North, NY5.0 mi · 2,761 people · home $210,600
Elmira Heights questions
Is Elmira Heights, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elmira Heights scores better for retirees than 4% of New York towns and quieter than 20%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Elmira Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Elmira Heights is valued at $104,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,125, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $851 a month.
What is the weather like in Elmira Heights?
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 Heights get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmira Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 28, 2011. 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)