United States › New York › Cortland CITY · 2020 ACS
Cortland New York · 17,556 residents · 3.89 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Cortland is home to 17,556 people in New York. 43% of homes are owner-occupied. This skews young, with a median age of 32.0. The typical home is worth $112,500, having risen by half since 2000. 74% were living in the same home a year earlier. The poverty rate is 23.2%, above the 12.8% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 27.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 18K 19K 19K 20K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Cortland Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $48,859
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,478 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $14,267 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 24.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 2.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.5%
Education & health services 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing 0.2%
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$112,500
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$765
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $449 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 43.7% in 2000
57.3% rent
from 2.26 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 94.6%(17,737)
Hispanic / Latino 1.7%(322)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 81.6%(14,326)
Hispanic / Latino 5.3%(929)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data from 19.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 79.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 69.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 52.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 35.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 7.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 55.8%(4,051)
Women 15+
Never married 54.2%(4,312)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 29.1%(268)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.8%(183)
Share of the 922 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Cortland Head to head
Compare Cortland to nearby cities CORTLAND VS
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CORTLAND VS
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Home value $297,600 +165%
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CORTLAND VS
Auburn
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Syracuse
Income $47,819 −2%
Home value $138,400 +23%
Population 144,896 +733%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Cortland, New York? Cortland, New York has about 17,556 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Cortland, New York? The typical household in Cortland, New York earns about $48,859 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 $112,500, and the typical rent is about $765 a month.
How educated are people in Cortland, New York? About 26.8% 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 23.2% of people in Cortland, New York live below the federal poverty line.
Has Cortland, New York grown since 1990? Yes, Cortland, New York has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,245 residents, a change of about -11 percent over that period.
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