Home Insurance in Elmira, New York
Homes in Elmira carry a median value of $93,000 - 34% lower than the Chemung County median.
The median home in Elmira was built in 1939 or earlier. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. About 79% of homes were built before 1960, about 22 points above Chemung County's 58%.
The housing stock in Elmira is 53% single-family homes, 16% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
55% of owner-occupied homes in Elmira carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 50% of occupied homes in Elmira are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 17%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Most homes in Elmira - 77% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
Chemung County's top FEMA-rated hazard is inland flooding (Relatively Low), per FEMA's National Risk Index. Chemung County had 489 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Chemung County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Flood damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in New York is $1,801 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $93,000 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1939 or earlier |
| Owner-occupied share | 50% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 55% |
| Top county hazard | Inland Flooding (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP policies in Chemung County | 489 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,801 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)