Located about 7 miles north of the Pennsylvania border, Elmira is a historic city in south-central New York. Today, the vibrant community is home to reputable art centers, including the Arnot Art Museum and Mark Twain’s Study, affordable real estate and recreational outlets such as the Lackawanna Rail Trail. Boasting about 26,000 people and a median household income of $43,089, the city has a large manufacturing presence, and top employers include Anchor Glass Container Corporation, CAF USA and Hardinge Incorporated. “This is a place you can visit and fall in love with,” says Toni L. Granger, a real estate professional at Hatfield Real Estate with 25 years of experience. “We have absolutely beautiful scenery and it’s very laidback as far as towns go. Our neighborhoods are very diverse, and we have just about every nationality on our street.”
Elmira boasts a family-friendly atmosphere with a lower crime rate, numerous parks, and recreational activities along the Chemung River.
In this octagonal building, Mark Twain wrote major portions of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Life on the Mississippi, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court, The Prince and the Pauper, A Tramp Abroad, and many short pieces.
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Affordable historic homes attracting homebuyers
Homes in Elmira were typically built from the last half of the 19th century to the 1900s. Architectural styles run the gamut from smaller bungalows, cottages, American Foursquares and Workers Cottages to larger split-levels, colonials, Colonial Revivals, Queen Annes and Tudor Revivals. Depending on size and upkeep, single-family houses that need extensive rehabilitation can start around $30,000, and those that have been carefully maintained or renovated can go over $400,000. The median home price is $131,000, significantly below the state’s median. Multifamily properties can be between $30,000 and over $150,000. “Elmira has a lot of 19th century homes that were built as mansions,” Granger says. “Some have been restored because many homeowners fell in love with the architecture. There are also many properties that still look like beautiful single-family homes on the outside, but they have been split into apartments with many individual units.”
Many Colonial Revival homes in Elmira were built as mansions in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Multifamily homes in Elmira can be purchased between $30,000 and $150,000.
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Public parks peppered throughout the city
The city maintains over 20 public parks, many of which have splash pads for children to play. Featuring a carousel, mini golf and a pond for paddle boats and fishing, Eldridge Park is the community’s go-to spot in the summer. Wisner Park is home to the community’s farmers market from June to September, and Millers Pond Park on the south side of the river is a popular place for picnics and cookouts. About 6 miles outside city limits, Newtown Battlefield State Park, a historic battle site in the Revolutionary War, has cabins for campers.
Since its early days Eldridge Park in Elmira has served as a gathering place for families, friends, and visitors, offering both leisure and entertainment.
The Newtown Battlefield is located along the eastern bank of the Chemung River, in western New York southeast of Elmira.
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Restaurants and museums in Downtown
Downtown Elmira is located in the city center on both the north and south banks of the Chemung River. The district is dotted with local restaurants, bars and some independent art galleries. Most restaurants are along Main Street, and big-box retailers and grocery stores are peppered throughout the small city.
Elmira residents have convenient access to numerous national retailers to satisfy almost any shopping need.
The Juice Collective in Elmira specializes agua fresca, cold-presses juices, smoothies, and wellness shots.
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Community festivals throughout the year
The annual Elmira Fest in the summer is a celebration with games, food, prizes and community prayer. Elmira’s downtown also has many events, including a holiday parade and tree lighting ceremony, an annual food festival Taste of Downtown, the Elmira Street Painting Festival and a Secret Garden Gala.
Wisner Park in downtown Elmira hosts special events throughout the year.
Downtown Elmira is pedestrian friendly and many residents choose to ride bicycles to get around.
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Public and higher education
Elmira City School District serves about 5,500 students and has a C-plus Niche grade. The school system has a student-teacher ratio of 16-to-1, and has several elementary, intermediate elementary schools and a middle school. Broadway Academy serves ninth-grade students, while sophomores through seniors attend Elmira High School, which has a finance academy. Elmira College is right in the city and offers 35 majors and minors.
Elmira College, founded in 1855, is the oldest existing college granting degrees to women that were the equivalent of those given to men.
Elmira High School has an overall B grade on Niche.
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The city is served by highways and public transit
Elmira is accessible via Interstate 86 and New York State Route 14. The Chemung County Transit System provides public bus service within the city. Several transportation companies, including Trailways of New York, OurBus and Trailways Transportation System, provide intercity routes. The Elmira Corning Regional Airport is about 11 miles outside the city, offering flights operated by Delta and Allegiant.
Potential for floods and decrease in crime
Elmira is located on the floodplain of the Chemung River and has suffered many floods and natural disasters in the past, including Hurricane Agnes and the 1972 flood. According to Elmira’s police department, violent crimes decreased slightly in 2023, and property crimes decreased significantly from the previous year.
Written By
Christina Xu
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Brandon Vick
Video By
Chris Norton
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On average, homes in Elmira, NY sell after 78 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Elmira, NY over the last 12 months is $130,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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