Elmira is a medium-sized city located in the state of New York. With a population of 25,852 people and 13 associated neighborhoods, Elmira is the 64th largest community in New York. Much of the housing stock in Elmira was built prior to World War II, making it one of the older and more historic cities in the country.

The education level of Elmira citizens, measured as those with bachelor's degrees or advanced degrees, is similar to the national average for all American cities and towns. 17.12% of adults 25 and older in Elmira have a college degree.

The per capita income in Elmira in 2018 was $22,259, which is low income relative to New York and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $89,036 for a family of four. However, Elmira contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.

Elmira is a very ethnically-diverse city. The people who call Elmira home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Elmira residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Elmira include Irish, German, Italian, English, and Polish.

The most common language spoken in Elmira is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and Chinese.