CensusEasy
CITY · 2020 ACS

Elmira

New York · 26,523 residents · 7.252 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Elmira metro area
Compare
The short version

Elmira has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $36,543. Population has declined 14% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value is $76,200. The poverty rate of 24.9% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 49% less than the New York median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
26,523
−14%since 2000
from 30,940 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
36.4
+9%since 2000
from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
26K28K30K32K34K1990201020202024Elmira
202426K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.2%(1,652)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.5%(1,728)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.4%(1,704)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.8%(1,814)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.7%(1,778)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3415.3%(4,061)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.7%(3,364)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.2%(2,960)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.4%(3,555)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 749.2%(2,453)
US avg: 10%
75 to 843.7%(970)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.8%(484)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$36,543
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,292 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,961
+38%since 2000
from $14,495 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
23.7%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
24.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 23.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information15%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade10.8%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$76,200
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$727
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $447 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
45.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 48.3% in 2000
54.8% rent
Afford Score
2.1
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Elmira on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.8%(25,002)
Black12.7%(3,935)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(970)
Asian0.5%(150)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic70.4%(18,659)
Black14.1%(3,745)
Hispanic / Latino6%(1,596)
Asian0.8%(205)
Other6.3%(1,659)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2%(552)
Puerto Rican1.9%(529)
Colombian0.3%(92)
Dominican0.1%(37)
Salvadoran0.1%(19)
Spaniard0.1%(16)
Cuban0.1%(14)
Guatemalan0.1%(14)
Asian origin
Chinese0.3%(73)
Burmese0.1%(21)
Japanese0%(10)
Korean0%(6)
Ancestry
Irish17.4%(4,745)
German14.5%(3,938)
Italian11%(3,001)
English8.1%(2,202)
American5.3%(1,438)
Polish4.7%(1,290)
Scottish2.2%(605)
French1.5%(421)
Dutch1.5%(419)
Welsh1.5%(414)
Swedish0.9%(233)
+ 25 more ancestry groups with data
British0.6%(169)
Ukrainian0.5%(148)
Russian0.5%(124)
Hungarian0.4%(122)
West Indian0.4%(120)
Lebanese0.4%(119)
Jamaican0.4%(97)
Czech0.2%(64)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(54)
Norwegian0.1%(35)
Greek0.1%(34)
Armenian0.1%(25)
Canadian0.1%(21)
Israeli0.1%(18)
Slovak0.1%(16)
Swiss0.1%(15)
Belgian0%(13)
Austrian0%(11)
Finnish0%(11)
Syrian0%(7)
Arab0%(6)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
81.5%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 74.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.1 min
+52%since 2000
from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
71.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 73.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
20.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
54.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2011
from 52.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
27.8%
−31.9 ptssince 2009
from 59.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.6%
−83.5 ptssince 2013
from 88.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married49.1%(5,081)
Married37.2%(3,843)
Widowed1.9%(196)
Divorced11.8%(1,222)
Women 15+
Never married41%(4,423)
Married34.5%(3,716)
Widowed9.7%(1,046)
Divorced14.8%(1,590)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Elmira

Leisure City
Pop 27,808
Bayonet Point
Pop 23,822
Immokalee
Pop 26,361
South Bradenton
Pop 25,990
Places similar to Elmira
Head to head

Compare Elmira to nearby cities

ELMIRA VS
Corning
Income$61,760+69%
Home value$158,400+108%
Population10,514−60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELMIRA VS
Ithaca
Income$48,784+33%
Home value$342,700+350%
Population33,632+29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELMIRA VS
Endicott
Income$47,290+29%
Home value$121,800+60%
Population13,068−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELMIRA VS
Endwell
Income$82,726+126%
Home value$173,300+127%
Population11,546−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Elmira, New York?

Elmira, New York has about 26,523 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Elmira, New York?

The typical household in Elmira, New York earns about $36,543 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Elmira, New York expensive?

In Elmira, New York, the median home is worth about $76,200, and the typical rent is about $727 a month.

How educated are people in Elmira, New York?

About 15.4% of adults age 25 and over in Elmira, New York hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Elmira, New York?

About 24.9% of people in Elmira, New York live below the federal poverty line.

Has Elmira, New York grown since 1990?

Yes, Elmira, New York has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 7,201 residents, a change of about -21 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
New York
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Elmira with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →