Photo: Stilfehler 19:28, 9 July 2007 (CEST) · CC BY-SA 1.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Elmira is healthier than 57%
Elmira trails New York on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elmira. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elmira
COPD, depression and stroke run high in Elmira
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.2%), vs 6% across New York. 1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (23.1%), vs 17.5% across New York. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.4% across New York. In all, Elmira runs above New York on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Elmira
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (20.3%), vs 11.3% across New York. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Elmira
51.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.5% across New York. Among those 65 and older, 22.4% have lost all their teeth (New York 12.8%). Checkups ↓
Elmira is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Elmira is healthier than 16%. Against the 3,372 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 57%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the New York figure falls outside Elmira’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Elmira’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elmira is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns, #742 of 755 in New York. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 57% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 7%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Elmira’s median household income is $43,120; among the 3,372 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 57%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Elmira adults…
Elmira runs above NY on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
3.3 miles of trails across 21 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Elmira adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Care in and near Elmira
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Elmira, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Elmira; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Elmira adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Elmira runs above New York.
4 in 10 Elmira adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.4% of Elmira adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Elmira and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmira | C− | 35.2% | 13.2% | 20.3% | CDC place |
| Elmira | C− | 34.5% | 13.2% | 19.4% | ZIP codes |
| Southport | C+ | 31.6% | 12.8% | 16% | ZIP codes |
| Southport | — | — | — | — | |
| West Elmira | — | — | — | — |
Southport and West Elmira: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elmira adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elmira
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elmira is better than New York on 0 and worse on 21; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Elmira’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elmira | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.1%22.5–28 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15.3–19 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%18.4–22.7 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.2%28.6–42.6 | 28.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.6–15 | 11.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.9%34.1–42 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%32.4–40.4 | 37.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.7%24.8–30.9 | 24% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%11–13.7 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.9–8.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%7–8.5 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%9.2–11.2 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.1–4.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.4%19–26.3 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.3%18–22.9 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.6%28.3–37.5 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13.1–18.8 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.1%32.9–45.6 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 7.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%75.9–82.3 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.2%47.6–54.9 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.5%82.6–86.2 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.9%73.3–78.4 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63%57.9–67.9 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.7%67.2–81.4 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.1%19.8–26.6 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 36.1%30.3–41.9 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.7%23.6–31.9 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.7%22.4–29 | 17.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.7%17.1–22.3 | 14.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.4%11.7–15.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.4%11.9–15 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.4%24.4–30.3 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.4%30.5–38.8 | 27.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.6%15.7–19.6 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%16.1–19.9 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.2–7.8 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.6%7–8.3 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12%10.9–13.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.5–6.5 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the New York figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Elmira
Is Elmira a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elmira is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #742 of 755 in New York. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elmira?
CDC estimates 35.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 42.6%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elmira?
Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Elmira’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elmira have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–10.9%), against 7.9% across New York.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Elmira more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Elmira.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New York figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.