The City of Elmira has made the top 20 in an analysis by a national publication of the best places to retire in New York state.
Overall, U.S. News ranked 250 Best Places to Live across the U.S.
According to the study conducted by U.S. News & World Report, Elmira ranked No. 13 out of 26 New York state communities that were cited as the most desirable locations for people to spend their golden years.
The publication analyzed places in New York based on categories like housing affordability, how much of the population is age 55 and over, weather temperateness and a city’s cultural, leisure, retail and restaurant accessibility.
The weight of each was based on a March 2025 public survey of what Americans approaching or at retirement age believed were the most important factors when choosing where to live in retirement.
Based on a variety of data collected from various public and private sources, Elmira achieved a score of 4.5, placing it just out of the top 10.
About 26,068 people live in Elmira, and the median age is 35.3. About 15% of the population of the city is over age 65, according to the survey.
Among the factors that make Elmira attractive are a cost of living that’s lower than many similarly-sized cities, and moderate weather.
Greece was ranked No. 1 on the list of best places to retire in New York, with an overall score of 5.5. Binghamton was at No. 5 and Ithaca ranked 25th.
Elmira was also ranked No. 9 on the Best Places to Live in New York state, according to the U.S. News & World Report analysis.
Which other New York municipalities made U.S. News’ list?
U.S. News included 25 total New York state cities, towns and villages on its list. Here are the remaining best places in New York to retire, according to the ranking:
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: U.S. News says Elmira is among best places to retire in NY. Here’s why
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
