What are the schools like in Elmira, NY?

Elmira is served primarily by ELMIRA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.2:1.

What is the median household income in Elmira?

The median household income in Elmira, NY is $41,073 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.8%.

What is the weather like in Elmira, NY?

Elmira has an average high temperature of 33.7°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.8 inches.

Elmira, NY Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Elmira, NY affordable or expensive?

Elmira's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elmira is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $85,600 and the median rent is $823 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Elmira, NY?

Elmira has a violent crime rate of 547.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4137.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elmira, NY a Good Place to Live?

Elmira is a small city of 26,494 in New York, with a median household income of $41,073 and a 9.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Elmira stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Elmira is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Elmira 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: 92.2

Elmira's overall cost of living index is 92.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elmira costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elmira, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$85,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$823	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,073	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Elmira's violent crime rate is 547.3 per 100,000 residents — 44% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

547.3 /100k

Property Crime

4137.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Elmira is served primarily by ELMIRA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elmira, NY	National Avg
School District	ELMIRA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elmira sees average highs of 33.7°F in January and 83.7°F in July, with 37.4 inches of annual precipitation and 41.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elmira, NY
Average High — January	33.7°F
Average High — July	83.7°F
Annual Precipitation	37.4"
Annual Snowfall	41.8"

Demographics

Metric	Elmira, NY	National Avg
Population	26,494	—
Median Age	35.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.8%	6.3%
Under 18	22.5%	22.2%
65 and over	14.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

West Elmira, NY 2 mi Southport, NY 2 mi Elmira Heights, NY 2 mi Horseheads, NY 5 mi Wellsburg, NY 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Elmira

Elmira, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

14901

Elmira vs Other Cities

Elmira, NY vs West Elmira, NY Elmira, NY vs Southport, NY Elmira, NY vs Elmira Heights, NY Elmira, NY vs Horseheads, NY Elmira, NY vs Wellsburg, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elmira, NY affordable or expensive?

Elmira's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elmira roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $85,600 and median rent is $823/month.

What is the crime rate in Elmira, NY?

Elmira's violent crime rate is 547.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4137.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Elmira?

Public schools in Elmira are operated by ELMIRA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elmira, NY a good place to live?

Elmira, NY has a population of 26,494, a median household income of $41,073, and an unemployment rate of 9.8%. 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.

What is the weather like in Elmira?

Elmira averages 33.7°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.4 inches with about 41.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Elmira?

Elmira, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 14901.

What is the population of Elmira?

The population of Elmira, New York is 26,494 with a median age of 35.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Elmira?

Key numbers for living in Elmira: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $85,600, median household income $41,073, crime index 165 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elmira side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.