RANK #846 / 1001 NAT · #45 / 45 NY · POP 92,588
1YR FORECAST: +1.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
Steuben County, New York, is perhaps best known for the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass, a major cultural attraction in the city of Corning. Located in the Southern Tier region, bordering Pennsylvania, the county is about an hour and a half southeast of Rochester. It offers a blend of small towns, historic sites, and natural scenery, characterized by rolling hills and valleys. Public transportation options, including local bus services, are available within the county. Life in Steuben County is often described as peaceful and rural, appealing to those seeking a slower pace with access to nature. The economy is diverse, with manufacturing, healthcare, education, and agriculture playing significant roles. Corning Incorporated, a global leader in materials science, is headquartered in the city of Corning and is a major employer. Recent economic developments have focused on strengthening infrastructure and expanding energy and broadband services, alongside efforts to support workforce development and housing initiatives. The county also emphasizes career-connected learning opportunities through partnerships with educational institutions.
Steuben County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.5% YoY, population -0.5%, wages +7.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 4.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Canisteo Wind Energy Center
NextEra Energy Resources (affiliate)
|
$250M | Proposed |
|
Baron Winds Project (Phases I & II)
RWE
|
$245M | Operating/Under Construction |
|
Gemma Energy Storage
Unknown
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Prattsburgh Wind Project
Terra-Gen
|
$152M | Proposed |
|
Addison Solar Project
WEB Renewable Energy USA LCC
|
$105M | Planned |
|
Hornell Gateway Corridor Project
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)
|
$64M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Steuben County scores just 15/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #846 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -0.2% and median household income of $65,887 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
By national standards, Steuben County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $137,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.48 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $894/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Steuben County are both close to flat — population -0.5% YoY and jobs -0.2%. Home values shifted +3.5% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.33% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Steuben County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.