Residential comparison · 13 facts
Elmira, NY vs Ithaca, NY
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Elmira needs about $94,500 in Ithaca to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Ithaca, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $75,500 in Elmira.
A few differences
- Ithaca is higher on median household income ($48,784 vs $43,120).
- Elmira is lower on cost of living index (86 vs 110).
- Elmira is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,005/mo vs $1,717/mo).
Elmira vs Ithaca · facet by facet
| Facet | Elmira, NY | Ithaca, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $93,000 | $342,700 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,005/mo | $1,717/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| State & local income tax | 4.07% | 4.07% |
| Sales tax | 8.5% | 8.5% |
| Cost of living index | 86 | 110 |
| Groceries index | 108 | 108 |
| Utilities | $190/mo | $190/mo |
| Median household income | $43,120 | $48,784 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Crime index | 40/100 | 40/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 180 days | 180 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Elmira, NY · Ithaca, NY
Questions & answers
- Is Elmira cheaper than Ithaca?
- Elmira has the lower day-to-day cost index (86 vs 110 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Ithaca equals $85,000 in Elmira?
- A household earning $85,000 in Elmira needs about $94,500 in Ithaca to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Ithaca lifestyle costs about $75,500 in Elmira.