The glassblowing town of Corning is nicknamed "Crystal City"
Corning sits in the dense wooded expanse of southern Steuben County, intercut by the Chemung River, which made the town a valuable port city in the 19th century. During the Civil War, the town shipped timbers from the Allegheny Plateau and homemade glass by riverboat and train to major cities like Baltimore. Today, residents still live in turn-of-the-century homes and take pride in the art of glassblowing, which has given Corning the nickname of “Crystal City.”
According to the Census, Corning’s population decreased by 5.1% from 2010 to 2023. Glass is still a leading industry in the town, which is home to the Fortune 500 company Corning, Inc.'s headquarters. But Corning's natural beauty is also a big reason people live here. “Retiree types come for the Finger Lakes,” says Kenneth Leath, a broker with Keller Williams Southern Tier and Finger Lakes with over 16 years of real estate experience. “It's also an artsy community, hosting the Smithsonian-affiliated Rockwell Museum and the Corning Glass Museum tied to the local history.”
The per capita income in Corning in 2022 was $41,672, which is middle income relative to New York, and upper middle income relative to the rest of the US.
Glass research and production is a leading industry in Corning which is home to Corning, Inc., a Fortune 500 company.
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Trails, nature preserves and Corning Glass Museum for recreation
Corning experiences four distinct seasons: mild summers and icy winters. Homes directly north of the Chemung River, close to the Corning Riverfront Trail, are at moderate flood risk. Corning Riverfront Trail runs 2 miles along the Chemung River and connects to several other local green spaces, like Houghton Park, with its playground and picnic pavilion. Locals can cross the Centerway Walking Bridge just off the trail to reach Centennial Park, south of the river. Centennial Park hosts the Corning Farmers Market and offers sweeping views of the river and the rolling Appalachian hills. Just a few miles from downtown is the Houghton Land Preserve, a 194-acre nature park that was donated to the Finger Lakes Land Trust in 2016. Locals can hike the 2-mile trail and observe wildlife, from sparrows and cuckoo birds to porcupines.
Corning Glass Museum is a huge attraction in town. It’s the world’s largest glass museum, with thousands of artifacts that span a 3,500-year history of glassblowing. The museum also offers classes and live glassblowing demonstrations, so there’s much to do beyond the exhibits. South of the river, the Rockwell Museum seeks to tell the story of American history through intricate art exhibits, and it’s part of the Smithsonian Affiliate network of museums.
Corning Riverfront Trail runs 2 miles along the Chemung River and is popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
The Corning Museum of Glass is home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of glass, the world’s foremost library on glass, and one of the top glassworking schools in the world.
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Folks shop and dine in the Corning Gaffer District
The Corning Gaffer District south of the Chemung River serves as the city’s arts hub, while West Market Street is a local dining corridor. Leath recommends spots like Three Birds Restaurant, a fine-dining establishment serving steak and seafood. Wegmans, the New York staple supermarket, is at one end of West Market Street, while the Centennial Sculpture sits at the east end, detailing Corning’s river trading history on a modest plaza.
Market Street in Corning, is the Gaffer District’s hub for shopping and dining.
Wegmans Food and Pharmacy provides daily value and shopping convenience to Corning residents.
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Folks can learn glassblowing or run in the Wine Glass Marathon
During a May weekend every year, the Corning Glass Festival celebrates the art of glassblowing and its significance in the city. Folks fill Market Street to watch live glass demos, listen to live music and enjoy food and drink vendors. People can also take classes to learn how to make glass vases. Later in the year, the town fuses its glassblowing identity with its location in Finger Lakes wine country for a special set of races. “The Wineglass Marathon is in the Fall; it’s a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, which, of course, draws a lot of folks to the community,” says Leath. The Wineglass Race Series has been a Corning staple for 44 years and includes a 5K, 8K, half marathon and a full marathon. No wine is served during the races, but all participants receive glass awards.
Visitors to the Corning Museum of Glass can learn about the science and technology behind innovations in glass at exhibits throughout the museum campus.
Market Street in Corning is known for its brick sidewalks, specialized boutiques, and a selection of over 30 restaurants that can satisfy almost any diet.
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Elegant historic homes and midcentury options
Corning's homes reflect the town’s 19th-century roots. A number of Queen Anne, Victorian, Tudor and American Foursquare single-family homes sit along hilly residential streets, and several multifamily homes are also on the market. “Homes around the Southside Hill area in Corning were built around 1900; most of those are larger Victorian and Colonial types,” says Leath. “Within 3 or 4 miles of Downtown in Painted Post [are] newer constructions from the last 50 years.” Home prices range from $75,000 for a three-bedroom fixer-upper or teardown to $600,000 for elegant three-to-five-bedroom properties built in the 1890s. Both the violent and property crime rates in town are well below the national average rates. Data from the Corning Police Department show that violent crime rose slightly, and property crime remained about the same from 2020 through 2022.
Some 19th century Queen Anne homes in Corning sit along hilly residentail streets and typically sell for around $600,000.
Larger Victorian homes near downtown Corning were built around 1900 and when available sell for between $500,00 to $600,000.
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Kids can learn at Corning city schools
Corning City School District serves the community’s youth. The district is rated an A-minus on Niche and is ranked as the No. 1 best public school district in Steuben County. A few miles south of town is SUNY Corning Community College, which has around 3,700 students enrolled as of 2022.
Corning City School District is rated an A-minus on Niche and is ranked as the No. 1 best public school district in Steuben County.
SUNY Corning Community College has around 3,700 students enrolled as of 2022.
SUNY Corning Community College has around 3,700 students enrolled as of 2022.
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100 miles from major Upstate cities, and half an hour from the Finger Lakes
New York state Route 17 runs through Corning to the north and is the largest state highway in New York. Corning residents can take it to access other towns across the Southern Tier region. Locals can also reach Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo after roughly 100 miles, or between an hour and a half and two hours. A day trip to the nearby Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes takes 20 miles or around half an hour.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Vick
Video By
EB Fox
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Corning by the Numbers
9,836
Population
114
Average Days on Market
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)$173,630
Median Single Family Price$186,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft$110
Months Of Supply1
Demographics and Finance
Median Household Income$53K
Lower than National Average$71K
% Owners50%
Lower than National Average63%
College Graduates43%
Higher than National Average34%
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Top Schools in Corning, NY
Source:
Best Public Elementary Schools
#1 Frederick Carder Elementary School
B+
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#2 Calvin U. Smith Elementary School
A-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#3 Hugh W. Gregg Elementary School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#4 William E. Severn Elementary School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#5 Winfield Street Elementary School
C+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Best Public Middle School
#1 Corning-Painted Post Middle School
B
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Best Public High Schools
#1 Corning-Painted Post High School
A-
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#2 Corning Painted Post High School Learning Center
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
