CensusEasy
CITY

Cortland

Illinois · 4,676 residents (2025 est.) · 3.593 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Chicago metro area
Compare
The short version

Cortland has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,971. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 2,498 residents. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $233,200. At a median age of 31.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,564
+121%since 2000
from 2,066 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,270 / sq mi
+121%since 2000
from 575 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
31.5
+4%since 2000
from 30.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,676 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5872K3K4K5K1990201020202024Cortland
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,971
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,750 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,888
+75%since 2000
from $18,775 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.1%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 42.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.363
+16%since 2010
from 0.313 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance11.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical10%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade9.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade7.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$233,200
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $134,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,552
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $724 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.0%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 71.5% in 2000
22.0% rent
Vacancy rate
0.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
35.9%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 41.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
76.9%
+33.3 ptssince 2009
from 43.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+24%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
25
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cortland on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.9%(1,898)
Black1.2%(24)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(91)
Asian1.3%(26)
Other0%
Diversity Score16.4%(339)
2024
White, non-Hispanic70%(3,194)
Black5.1%(233)
Hispanic / Latino17.2%(783)
Asian0.7%(32)
Other7.1%(322)
Diversity Score59.1%(2,699)
Diversity Score
59
+261%since 2000
from 16 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.7%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 22.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.7%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 87.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.5 min
+36%since 2000
from 18.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 82.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.6%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
72.0%
−11.0 ptssince 2011
from 83.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.0%
−25.8 ptssince 2009
from 63.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
54.2%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
45.8%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
4.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.3%
−43.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.5%
+7.8 ptssince 2012
from 5.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.6%
−82.7 ptssince 2013
from 90.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2017
from 97.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.8%
+6.5 ptssince 2016
from 83.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.4%
−4.4 ptssince 2016
from 13.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Cortland

Butler Beach
Pop 4,610
Lower Grand Lagoon
Pop 4,287
Daytona Beach Shores
Pop 5,187
Alturas
Pop 4,581
Places similar to Cortland
Head to head

Compare Cortland to nearby cities

CORTLAND VS
DeKalb
Income$46,481−37%
Home value$204,700−12%
Population40,467+765%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CORTLAND VS
Sycamore
Income$84,120+14%
Home value$265,700+14%
Population19,083+308%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CORTLAND VS
Campton Hills
Income$209,134+183%
Home value$547,500+135%
Population10,894+133%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CORTLAND VS
Hampshire
Income$94,773+28%
Home value$329,800+41%
Population9,266+98%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cortland, Illinois?

Cortland, Illinois has about 4,564 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cortland, Illinois?

The typical household in Cortland, Illinois earns about $73,971 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cortland, Illinois expensive?

In Cortland, Illinois, the median home is worth about $233,200, and the typical rent is about $1,552 a month.

How educated are people in Cortland, Illinois?

About 26.7% of adults age 25 and over in Cortland, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cortland, Illinois?

About 7.0% of people in Cortland, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cortland, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Cortland, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,600 residents, a change of about 373 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Illinois
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Cortland with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →