At a Glance
Median Income
$55,368
$27,328 per capita
Home Value
$143,800
Zillow: $194,617
Median Rent
$893/mo
30.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
295/100K
1,742/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
26.1%
89.2% high school+
Unemployment
4.4%
10.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.2%
17.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
45°F
260 sunny days/yr
How Cortland Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Cortland's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Cortland a Good Place to Live?
B
3.1 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Cortland residents earn a median household income of $55,368 , which is 26% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $27,328. The unemployment rate stands at 4.4% (22% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 10.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,115 business establishments, including 125 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Cortland is $143,800 , 49% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $194,617. Median rent is $893/month, with 30.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 107.9 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1943.
Safety & Crime
Cortland reports 295 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 22% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,742/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
26.1% of adults in Cortland hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(23% below the national average).
89.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.9/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Cortland has an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C).
Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 39.5 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36.
Data Overview
People
Population17,465
Median Age27.2 yrs
Density4,490/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans4.3%
Economy
B+
Median Income$55,368
Per Capita$27,328
Unemployment4.4%
Poverty10.0%
County GDP$2,372M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,073
Housing
A+
Home Value$143,800
Rent$893
Ownership44.6%
Zillow$194,617
Housing Units7,850
Rent Burden30.5%
Crime
F
Violent295/100K
Property1,742/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault118/100K
Burglary413/100K
Health
Obesity35.2%
Diabetes10.4%
Smoking17.6%
Heart Disease6.5%
Premature Death8,256/100K
Climate
Avg Temp45°F
Sunny Days260/yr
Rain39.5 in/yr
AQI36 (Good)
Elevation1,122 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+26.1%
High School+89.2%
Graduate+12.0%
School Score4.9/10
Community
2024 VoteR 53% / D 47%
Commute16 min
Broadband84.4%
Internet Speed153 Mbps
EV Stations19
Libraries5
Did You Know?
Cortland was founded in 1791.
The median home in Cortland was built in 1943.
The nearest airport is Ithaca Tompkins International (16 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.405 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
14.5% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 153 Mbps.
There are 125 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 7 fatal vehicle crashes.
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