Living in Corning: Rent or Own?

 

Corning is a highly-livable small city in Southwestern New York State with a rich arts and culture scene, a vibrant center city, numerous suburban areas, and nearby small towns and rural enclaves. Corning residents both old and new hold a strongly-held conviction that it’s an exceptional place to live, work, raise a family, or start a career.

If you’re considering a move to the area, you’re likely crunching numbers and sampling local demographic data to determine if you should rent or own, live in-city or nearby, and what all that means for your budget and lifestyle.

Here are a few considerations from SalaryExpert.com:

  • The cost of living is 1.2 percent lower than the national average.
  • Corning ranks 322nd on the list of most expensive place to live in New York State—and that is 21.1 percent lower than the state average.
  • For groceries, we have Wegmans, perched #1 atop the list of America’s favorite grocery stores (and also known as a very competitively priced retailer).
  • Transportation costs are lower than the national average. Additional data from Trulia.com indicates 96 percent of locals commute by car, one percent use public transportation, and three percent walk to work.
  • Corning scores a score of 7 out of 10 for housing costs, with 1 indicating most expensive and 10 representing the cheapest.

 

Homes

First-time buyers will find Corning to be an affordable option for owning a home. The median home price in Corning is $97,700, compared to $175,700 nationwide. Starter homes can run from $70K-$80K, and even higher-end and newer homes are very affordable with prices starting at $175,000.

House-hunters who like architectural flair target Corning’s Southside Hill neighborhood. This national historic district has over 400 homes built between the early 1800s and early 1900s that run the gamut of styles from that era.

Communities just a short drive away include the town of Painted Post (five minutes), town of Big Flats (13 minutes), and village of Horseheads (20 minutes). New housing developments are springing up in the nearby suburbs of Horseheads, Aurine, and elsewhere.

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Apartments and Condos

Data trends indicate the overall median rental rate in Corning is $706.00, 23 percent below the national median of $920. Singles and couples find places to live in and nearby Corning that speak to the lifestyle buzzwords of affordability, contemporary flair, and accessible amenities. Among your options in the mid- to high-range:

  • Academy Place Apartments, Corning. “Uncommon. Uncompromising. Unexpected.” Rates start at $1,050, and they have pet-friendly apartments.
  • Woodlawn Apartments, Elmira. Townhomes with rates starting at $699.
  • WoodsEdge, Painted Post. “The Very Latest in Resort-Style Living.” Luxury apartment homes with rates starting at $1,036/month.
  • Apple Creek Townhomes, Corning. “Small town living in Upstate New York.” City-based townhomes near Market Street starting at $978.
  • Strawberry Flats Luxury Apartments, Big Flats. “The ultimate in luxury apartment living in the Southern Tier of New York.” Popular single story units with garages.

According to the Corning IDA, the central city Gaffer District has 91 upper story living spaces, with more units currently in development. Residents enjoy the merits of urban living with the comfort and security of a small-town neighborhood. 

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Schools and Academics

GreatSchools.org finds area schools rank average to above average, on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the highest). Erwin Valley Elementary School in Painted Post rates the best among local public schools, with an overall score of 9, and scores of 9 for test performance and 9 for academic performance.

The New York State Education Department issues reports cards on school districts – get the grade on local school districts in Steuben County (home to Corning and Painted Post), and adjacent counties of Chemung, and Schuyler.

The Greater Southern Tier STEM Academy offers P-TECH – Pathways in Technology Early College High School. High school students participate in real work experiences and take college-level, credit-bearing courses starting in their first year, with one potential benefit being the opportunity to earn an associate degree from Corning Community College at no cost. 

Corning, Inc. has established relationships with community colleges and universities, so bright, motivated high school students can pursue STEM Education opportunities.

Whether you have children or not, if you plan to buy a home, you’ll still want to factor in the quality of the local school districts.

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Commuting

Even though most everyone commutes to work, you’ll find virtually no congestion—and getting home in 10 minutes really means getting home in 10 minutes. That leaves you time to immerse yourself in your hobbies and passions, and make it to see your kid’s sports games and school events.

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Living Here, Loving It Here

The city of Corning is nestled in the renowned Finger Lakes Region, a four-season vacation destination in Upstate New York, probably most renowned for its wine and waters. But it is just as appealing for its diverse festivals, fine arts, engaging museums, historic sites, locavore cuisine, breathtaking glens and gorges, spectacular waterfalls, winter skiing, scenic routes and hometown hospitality. You’ll be proud to host your friends and relatives and show them the area!