The Town FilesElma, New York
Town in Erie County · population 11,721 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $357,900
- Household income
- $116,460
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 109 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 43.8
Elma is a town of 11,721 people in Erie County, New York. The median home is worth $357,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 91% of New York towns, better for cycling than 88% of New York towns, better for families than 87% of New York towns.
How Elma ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elma is worth $357,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $116,460, which is more affordable than 43% of New York towns. Median rent is $952 a month. 88.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elma | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $357,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $952 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $116,460 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Elma
| People | Elma | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Elma
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 44.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 109.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elma since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 20, 2017 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 31, 1985.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 26, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3590: Severe Winter Storm |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 466,138 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,971 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Elma itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Elma
4 public schools with 1,615 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| IROQUOIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 625 | 10.6 |
| IROQUOIS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 482 | 10.7 |
| ELMA PRIMARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 298 | 13.5 |
| IROQUOIS INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 5-5 | 210 | 12.4 |
Towns near Elma
- Elma Center, NY0.7 mi · 2,851 people · home $423,000
- East Aurora, NY4.5 mi · 5,998 people · home $364,100
- Lancaster, NY5.1 mi · 10,027 people · home $202,200
- West Seneca, NY5.3 mi · 45,500 people · home $232,800
- Lancaster, NY5.8 mi · 45,106 people · home $277,600
- Marilla, NY6.0 mi · 5,189 people · home $286,400
- Aurora, NY6.2 mi · 13,943 people · home $364,800
- Depew, NY6.4 mi · 15,178 people · home $196,500
Elma questions
Is Elma, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elma scores better for retirees than 80% of New York towns and quieter than 55%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Elma?
The median owner-occupied home in Elma is valued at $357,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,460, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $952 a month.
What is the weather like in Elma?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.1 inches of precipitation a year and 109.3 inches of snow.
Does Elma get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 20, 2017. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)