County · New York
Chemung County, New York
Chemung County, New York. Chemung County had 80,415 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.4% since 2020, a steeper fall than New York's (−1.0%). It holds 24 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs, 11 towns and townships and 8 census-designated) and 25 census tracts. GEOID 36015.
Chemung County is the county of the Elmira, NY metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
80,415
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 84,148 · ACS 2020-2024: 82,147
Median household income
$63,716
±$2,911 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$141,100
±$6,793 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
$1,059
±$36 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621
How many people live in Chemung County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 84,148 residents in Chemung County. The Census Bureau estimates 80,415 for July 1, 2025, down 4.4% since 2020, a steeper fall than New York's (−1.0%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 82,147 over 407 square miles of land.
| Measure | Chemung County | New York | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 82,147 | 19,852,366 | −2,748 |
| Households | 35,262±439 | 7,722,646 | +1,273 |
| Average household size | 2.23±0.03 | 2.49 | −0.13 |
| Housing units | 39,252±68 | 8,585,241 | +382 |
Chemung County's population since 2000
From 91,070 in 2000 to 80,415 in 2025: down 11.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Chemung County?
Chemung County holds 24 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 11 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 8 census-designated places. The largest is Elmira with 26,089 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Elmira | 26,523 | $43,120 |
|---|---|---|
| Horseheads (town) | 19,374 | $68,990 |
| Southport (town) | 9,691 | $62,813 |
| Big Flats (town) | 7,791 | $87,044 |
| Elmira (town) | 6,848 | $105,351 |
| Southport | 6,782 | $62,684 |
| Horseheads | 6,606 | $61,223 |
| Big Flats | 5,555 | $89,286 |
| West Elmira | 4,850 | $111,417 |
| Elmira Heights | 3,916 | $58,125 |
| Veteran (town) | 3,355 | $65,341 |
| Horseheads North | 2,761 | $90,481 |
| Catlin (town) | 2,541 | $80,956 |
| Chemung (town) | 2,358 | $64,837 |
| Erin (town) | 1,806 | $66,583 |
| Van Etten (town) | 1,539 | $61,620 |
| Ashland (town), Chemung County | 1,510 | $56,154 |
| Pine ValleyGEOID 3658189 | 832 | not published |
| Baldwin (town) | 812 | $70,096 |
| BreesportGEOID 3608004 | 629 | $85,294 |
| Van Etten | 601 | $60,200 |
| Wellsburg | 490 | $63,750 |
| Erin | 367 | $42,313 |
| MillportGEOID 3647427 | 301 | $45,500 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Chemung County?
The median resident of Chemung County is 42.0 years old; 20.9% are under 18 and 20.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.4%. 3.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Chemung County | New York | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0±0.4 | 39.8 | +0.7 |
| Under 18 years | 20.9%±0.1 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.3%±0.1 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.8% | 19.8% | +0.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.0%±0.4 pts | 52.8% | −2.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.4%±0.5 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.5%±0.2 pts | 9.0% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.8%±0.6 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.5%±0.5 pts | 22.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.7%±0.6 pts | 30.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.7%±0.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| With a disability | 16.5%±1.1 pts | 12.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.1%±0.5 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.7%±0.9 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.2%±1.2 pts | 40.2% | +3.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.0%±1.0 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4%±0.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Chemung County earn?
Half of Chemung County's 35,262 households earn less than $63,716 a year (±$2,911), against $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 the median was $67,614 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $3,898 after inflation. 16.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Chemung County | New York | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,716±$2,911 | $85,974 | −$3,898 |
| Mean household income | $86,374±$3,698 | $128,247 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,273±$1,537 | $50,712 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.3%±1.4 pts | 14.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.9%±2.8 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.5%±1.4 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.0%±1.3 pts | 90.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Chemung County?
Owners occupy 68.4% of Chemung County's occupied homes and renters 31.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $141,100 by its owner (±$6,793). The median renter pays $1,059 a month including utilities, and 44.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Chemung County | New York | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $141,100±$6,793 | $423,800 | +$10,893 |
| Median gross rent | $1,059±$36 | $1,621 | +$58 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.5%±4.3 pts | 43.1% | +6.1 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,332±$46 | $2,555 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.4%±1.5 pts | 54.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 39,252±68 | 8,585,241 | +382 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.0%±0.8 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.4%±1.7 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.9%±1.7 pts | 41.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.4%±0.6 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3%±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 34.1%±1.8 pts | 30.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Chemung County building?
Builders took permits for 98 new housing units across Chemung County in 2025 (33 single-family), 1.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Chemung County get to work?
78.0% of Chemung County's workers drive alone and 8.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.1%.
| Measure | Chemung County | New York | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.5%±1.1 pts | 62.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.1%±0.9 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.0%±1.8 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.8%±1.1 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3%±0.4 pts | 21.6% | – |
| Walked | 2.2%±0.6 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.2%±1.2 pts | 14.9% | +6.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.2 min±0.8 | 32.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Chemung County's census tracts?
Chemung County is divided into 25 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $14,841 (Tract 7) to $111,083 (Tract 109).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Chemung County compare with New York's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 32nd of 62 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 60th of 62 |
| Residents per square mile | 23rd of 62 |
| Median household income | 54th of 62 |
| Median home value | 55th of 62 |
| Median gross rent | 27th of 62 |
| Poverty rate | 10th of 62 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37th of 62 |
| Median age | 31st of 62 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Chemung County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.