Relocation profile · Federal data
Elmira, NY
BEA RPP 94.4 sits mid-pack (#210 of 387 metros); cost is not the extreme signal here.
- 94.4
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,283
- 2BR rent / mo
- $61,869
- Median salary
- 51.2
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Elmira ranks #197 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (51.2/100), with its strongest marks in schools and job market.
- #197
- of 387 US metros · Near median
- 19,867,248
- metro-area population
- 380
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 4,812
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (23/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Elmira ranks #197 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 94.4 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,283/mo, median salary $61,869; LiveAbility Score 51.2/100, strongest in schools and job market.
Signature: BEA RPP 94.4 sits mid-pack (#210 of 387 metros); cost is not the extreme signal here.
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 94.4 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,283/mo.
LiveAbility 51.2/100 keeps Elmira in the middle third (#197 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Elmira area is 27,950.
Elmira vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
51 Top 51% higher than 49% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Elmira housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Elmira MSA; housing RPP 76.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,283/mo.
Elmira wages and employment
Elmira posts 27,950 total employment with median salary $61,869.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $34,140 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $32,950 |
| Cashiers | $32,790 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,520 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $36,900 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Elmira area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Elmira area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Elmira's composite Life Score is 43.3/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Elmira ranks #197 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 51.2/100 - a composite of 7 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized). Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Elmira - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
97 /100
- Job market
Job market
61 /100
- Housing
Housing
52 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
46 /100
- Safety 38
Safety
38 /100
- Climate 30
Climate
30 /100
- Low hazard 23
Low hazard
23 /100
What this shows Elmira's strongest dimensions are schools and job market; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 23/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%; this metro uses 7 of 8 dims with renormalized weights.
Compare Elmira to
Metros near Elmira on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Elmira on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Elmira cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Elmira wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Elmira?
Elmira runs a $61,869 median salary at a 94.4 cost index, ranking #197 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Elmira's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Elmira head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Elmira
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.