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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Cortland

New York · 19,801 residents · 3.894 sq mi
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The short version

Cortland has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $22,550. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $66,500. At a median age of 26.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 32% less than the New York median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 26.2
US median: 33.0
Average education
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,801
+6%vs 2000
vs 18,740 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
26.2
−6%vs 2000
vs 27.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K18K19K19K20K1990201020202024Cortland
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.2%(1,233)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 94.9%(976)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.3%(1,044)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 1912.2%(2,407)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 2419.5%(3,865)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414.6%(2,886)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4410.5%(2,075)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 546.9%(1,368)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 646.4%(1,259)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 747%(1,377)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844.8%(948)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.8%(363)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$22,550
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $26,478 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$10,033
−30%vs 2000
vs $14,267 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
20.2%
−4.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 24.7% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$66,500
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $71,100 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$390
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $449 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
45.6%
+2.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 43.7% in 2000
54.4% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cortland on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(17,737)
Black1.5%(278)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(322)
Asian0.6%(106)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic96.6%(19,131)
Black1.5%(298)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(335)
Asian0.5%(103)
Other1.4%(269)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican1.4%(242)
Spaniard1.3%(223)
Mexican0.9%(161)
Colombian0.5%(95)
Dominican0.5%(91)
Guatemalan0.2%(27)
Salvadoran0.1%(18)
Cuban0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Chinese0.5%(89)
Filipino0.4%(73)
Japanese0.4%(68)
Asian Indian0.2%(43)
Laotian0.1%(12)
Ancestry
Irish16.3%(2,853)
English14.4%(2,521)
German11.4%(1,990)
American9.7%(1,689)
Italian9%(1,564)
Polish2%(344)
French1.8%(310)
Scottish1.4%(250)
Welsh1.2%(207)
Dutch0.9%(165)
Swedish0.9%(151)
Arab0.8%(146)
+ 30 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.8%(146)
Russian0.8%(133)
Syrian0.7%(122)
Nigerian0.6%(107)
Czech0.5%(94)
British0.4%(75)
Greek0.4%(68)
Ukrainian0.3%(55)
Hungarian0.3%(50)
West Indian0.3%(44)
Norwegian0.2%(34)
Lithuanian0.2%(28)
Slovak0.2%(28)
Jamaican0.1%(23)
Lebanese0.1%(19)
Swiss0.1%(17)
Turkish0.1%(16)
Austrian0.1%(14)
Brazilian0.1%(14)
Ethiopian0.1%(13)
Haitian0.1%(13)
Iranian0.1%(12)
Croatian0.1%(10)
Slovene0.1%(10)
Danish0%(1)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.8%
+2.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 19.0% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
75.1%
−4.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 79.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
8.9%
+1.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 7.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.6 min
+21%vs 2000
vs 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married55.8%(4,051)
Married33.3%(2,416)
Widowed2.7%(193)
Divorced8.2%(598)
Women 15+
Never married54.2%(4,312)
Married28.8%(2,290)
Widowed5.1%(405)
Divorced12%(953)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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CORTLAND VS
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CORTLAND VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Cortland, New York?

Cortland, New York has about 19,801 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Cortland, New York?

The typical household in Cortland, New York earns about $22,550 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cortland, New York expensive?

In Cortland, New York, the median home is worth about $66,500, and the typical rent is about $390 a month.

How educated are people in Cortland, New York?

About 21.8% of adults age 25 and over in Cortland, New York hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cortland, New York?

About 20.2% of people in Cortland, New York live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →