Elmira vs Ithaca
Elmira, New York versus Ithaca, New York: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Elmira edges out Ithaca on overall objective livability (45 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Elmira | Ithaca |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $41k | $45k |
| Cost of Living | $50k | $63k |
| Home Value | $86k | $324k |
| Monthly Rent | $823 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 3.19% | 2.58% |
| Income Tax | 10.90% | 10.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.53% | 8.53% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 20.37% | 32.09% |
| Unemployment | 9.8% | 5.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 23°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 70°F | 68°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5 in | 38.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 41.8 in | 62.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 203 days | 203 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 74 days | 76 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 10.0 | 50.0 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 43 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 880/100k | 1507/100k |
| Property Crime | 3083/100k | 3772/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 26,494 | 31,359 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 22.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.41 | 0.52 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | R+14 | D+50 |
| White (%) | 73.8% | 63.9% |
| Black (%) | 10.7% | 4.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.1% | 8.0% |
| Asian (%) | 0.8% | 15.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 8.7% | 7.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 19 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 10.2/20 | 10.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 83 mi | 76 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 81.8% | 85.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 27.55 | 73.66 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Elmira or Ithaca more affordable?
- Elmira has the lower cost of living: its index is $50k, compared with Elmira's $50k and Ithaca's $63k. Median rent is $823 in Elmira versus $1k in Ithaca.
- Is Elmira or Ithaca safer?
- Elmira has the lower violent crime rate. Elmira reports 880/100k and Ithaca reports 1507/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Elmira or Ithaca?
- The median home value is $86k in Elmira and $324k in Ithaca, so homes are more affordable in Elmira.