Population 30,209 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Elmira
Household size in Elmira
| Period | Elmira | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Elmira are small: just 2.25 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.29 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Elmira
| Period | Elmira | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.9 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.2 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Elmira are younger than 39.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in New York overall, where the median age is 40.8. The median age has climbed from 37.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Elmira
| Period | Elmira | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 19.0% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in six households in Elmira (15.6%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 38 have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Elmira
Renters in Elmira
| Period | Elmira | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.5% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 49.0% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.4% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 46.2% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Elmira than nationally: 46.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Nearly half of owners (46.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. Only 42 of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Elmira
| Period | Elmira | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.4% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.3% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.3% of the housing in Elmira, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.8 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Elmira
| Period | Elmira | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1944 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1944 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1945 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1946 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Elmira is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1946, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the center. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 15 have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Elmira
| Period | Elmira | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $641 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $718 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $833 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,040 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$400 | +$698 | +$606 |
Rent in Elmira runs $1,040 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $400 a month from 2006–10, a 62% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 36.7% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Elmira
Bachelor's degrees in Elmira
| Period | Elmira | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.3% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.2% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Elmira have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 47 have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Elmira
| Period | Elmira | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.2% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.7% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.9% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.7% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Elmira never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.5 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 43 have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Elmira
| Period | Elmira | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Elmira: 8.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only 18 of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 3.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Elmira compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmira | 2.25 | 39.2 | 15.6% | 46.2% | 16.3% | 1946 | $1,040 | 21.6% | 84.7% | 8.3% |
| West Elmira | 2.35 | 45.0 | 6.5% | 12.3% | 8.7% | 1950 | $1,261 | 50.9% | 97.7% | 3.5% |
| Southport | 2.01 | 51.0 | 9.0% | 31.8% | 14.2% | 1955 | $1,084 | 14.3% | 92.0% | 7.8% |
| Elmira Heights | 2.54 | 43.8 | 14.3% | 43.7% | 9.6% | 1945 | $931 | 17.8% | 92.7% | 4.8% |
| Pine City | 2.22 | 49.0 | 16.7% | 13.5% | 4.6% | 1962 | $1,080 | 27.4% | 90.3% | 5.0% |
| Horseheads | 2.23 | 44.4 | 9.4% | 28.1% | 5.6% | 1971 | $1,306 | 36.1% | 96.5% | 3.7% |
| Wellsburg | 2.28 | 43.2 | 14.3% | 19.2% | 12.6% | 1971 | $930 | 9.8% | 88.5% | 4.8% |
| Lowman | 2.32 | 49.8 | 8.1% | 12.6% | 9.6% | 1973 | $1,214 | 14.8% | 84.7% | 4.2% |
| North Chemung | 2.44 | 49.8 | 7.2% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 1963 | $1,326 | 11.5% | 87.9% | 5.3% |
| Big Flats | 2.46 | 43.4 | 9.6% | 19.7% | 2.4% | 1965 | $1,345 | 52.4% | 99.4% | 3.3% |
| Breesport | 2.61 | 46.9 | 11.3% | 6.0% | 8.7% | 1969 | $1,128 | 27.7% | 95.5% | 2.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Flemington, NJ · Quakertown, PA · Port Chester, NY · Martinez, GA · Hightstown, NJ · Front Royal, VA · Franklin, IN · Franconia, VA · Fountain, CO · Rosemount, MN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Elmira. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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