Below Average CostSafer than AverageIROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Median Income
$102,159
household / year
Median Home Value
$411,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,324
gross / month
Cost of Living
94
national avg = 100
Is Elma Center, NY a Good Place to Live?
Elma Center is a small town of 3,434 in New York, with a median household income of $102,159
and a 5.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Elma Center stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Elma Center is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Elma Center city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.4
Elma Center's overall cost of living index is 94.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Elma Center costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Elma Center, NY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$411,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,324
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
86.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$102,159
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Elma Center's violent crime rate is 238.6 per 100,000 residents
— 37% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
238.6 /100k
Property Crime
1352.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Elma Center is served primarily by IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Elma Center, NY
National Avg
School District
IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
50.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Elma Center sees average highs of 31.5°F in January
and 78.8°F in July,
with 44.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 109.3 inches of snow per year.
Elma Center's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Elma Center roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $411,000 and median rent is $1,324/month.
Elma Center's violent crime rate is 238.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1352.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Elma Center are operated by IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1. 50.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Elma Center, NY has a population of 3,434, a median household income of $102,159, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Elma Center averages 31.5°F in January and 78.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.2 inches
with about 109.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Elma Center, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 14059.
The population of Elma Center, New York is 3,434 with a median age of 40.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Elma Center: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $411,000, median household income $102,159, crime index 63 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elma Center side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.