1st Advantage MortgageIn Chemung County, New York, the typical household earns $63,716 a year and the typical rent is $1,059. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's New York license first.
On this page
- Chemung County by the numbers
- Household income in Chemung County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Chemung County
- The Chemung County job picture
- Chemung County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Chemung County
- Who lives in Chemung County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Chemung County
- A Chemung County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Chemung County borrowers
- New York rules that apply in Chemung County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Chemung County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Chemung County's population at 82,147; only 31 of New York's 62 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 407 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 202 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Elmira, NY metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 13 Census places inside Chemung County, Elmira leads by population with about 26,257; 5 of the 13 are incorporated.
Household income in Chemung County
Half of Chemung County households take in less than $63,716 a year and half take in more, 26% below the New York median of $85,974. That places it 54th among New York's 62 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Chemung County | Difference from New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.6% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +10.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.4% | -3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -11.0 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. 16.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.0%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Chemung County
Renters in Chemung County pay a median of $1,059 a month, 35% below the New York figure of $1,621. By the Census definition, 52% of Chemung County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $141,100, or 2.2 years of median income. 68% of Chemung County households own their home and 32% rent. Median construction year: 1955.
| Housing | Chemung County | New York statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,059/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $141,100 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 33% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 10% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The Chemung County job picture
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Chemung County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 15% locally and 6% for New York. The survey's unemployment rate for Chemung County averages 6.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.4%). About 78% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Chemung County | Compared with New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.0% | +9.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +3.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.6% | -5.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -0.9 pts |
| Public administration | 6.2% | +1.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Chemung County and the counties next door
Schuyler County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Tioga County, is 37 miles off. Income ranges from $63,675 in Bradford County to $74,024 in Tompkins County; 5 of these neighbors top Chemung County's median. Some neighbors are in Pennsylvania. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Chemung County resident follows New York rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemung County | - | $63,716 | $1,059/mo | 68% |
| Schuyler County, NY | 21 mi | $67,663 | $899/mo | 79% |
| Tioga County, NY | 23 mi | $72,739 | $928/mo | 79% |
| Tompkins County, NY | 25 mi | $74,024 | $1,411/mo | 54% |
| Bradford County, PA | 28 mi | $63,675 | $901/mo | 72% |
| Steuben County, NY | 33 mi | $65,887 | $894/mo | 73% |
| Tioga County, PA | 37 mi | $64,899 | $863/mo | 77% |
Towns and communities in Chemung County
13 Census places fall mainly inside Chemung County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 59,443 residents, leaving about 28% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $111,417 at the median in West Elmira, $43,120 in Elmira. Rent is cheapest in Pine Valley ($792) and steepest in Big Flats ($1,381). None of the 13 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmira | city | 26,257 | $43,120 | $909 | 5 mi |
| Southport | CDP | 6,450 | $62,684 | $1,136 | 7 mi |
| Horseheads | village | 6,449 | $61,223 | $1,181 | 4 mi |
| Big Flats | CDP | 5,651 | $89,286 | $1,381 | 8 mi |
| West Elmira | CDP | 4,750 | $111,417 | $1,221 | 6 mi |
| Elmira Heights | village | 4,110 | $58,125 | $851 | 4 mi |
| Horseheads North | CDP | 2,676 | $90,481 | $1,323 | 4 mi |
| Pine Valley | CDP | 721 | n/a | $792 | 7 mi |
| Breesport | CDP | 628 | $85,294 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Van Etten | CDP | 587 | $60,200 | $1,023 | 11 mi |
| Erin | CDP | 473 | $42,313 | $742 | 5 mi |
| Wellsburg | village | 448 | $63,750 | $758 | 9 mi |
| Millport | village | 243 | $45,500 | $1,833 | 9 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Who lives in Chemung County, in numbers
27% of Chemung County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Chemung County | New York statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.2% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.8% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.1% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Chemung County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Chemung County borrowers.
- 52% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Chemung County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
A Chemung County household budget, worked through
Chemung County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Chemung County: $5,310
- Median rent: $1,059, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $852 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Chemung County's.
Four steps for Chemung County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Chemung County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in New York.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
New York rules that apply in Chemung County
Chemung County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New York State Department of Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: New York guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The New York guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Chemung County?
$63,716 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $85,974 for New York. It ranks 54th of 62 in the state.
What do renters pay in Chemung County?
$1,059 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
I live in a small Chemung County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Elmira, Southport, Horseheads, Big Flats, West Elmira and 8 more.
Does living in Chemung County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Chemung County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Chemung County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In New York it is the New York State Department of Financial Services.