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COUNTY

Cortland County

New York · 45,850 residents (2025 est.) · 498.774 sq mi
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The short version

Cortland County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,418. Population has declined 5% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $162,100. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% 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
46,246
−5%since 2000
from 48,599 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
93 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 97 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
37.0
+8%since 2000
from 34.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:45,850 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
46K47K48K49K50K1990201020202024Cortland County
202446K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(2,174)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.9%(2,282)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.4%(2,479)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1910.1%(4,669)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2411.5%(5,325)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.2%(5,172)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411%(5,064)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411%(5,107)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.1%(6,045)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.2%(4,736)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.2%(2,417)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(776)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,418
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,364 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,752
+109%since 2000
from $16,622 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.1%
+21.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.8%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.418
−1%since 2010
from 0.423 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$162,100
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$984
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $471 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 64.3% in 2000
33.7% rent
Vacancy rate
8.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 41.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+13%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
49
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cortland County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.2%(46,748)
Black0.8%(399)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(565)
Asian0.4%(198)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.2%(41,258)
Black1.7%(770)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(1,666)
Asian1.4%(656)
Other4.1%(1,896)
Diversity Score
25
+91%since 2009
from 13 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
21
+19%since 2020
from 18 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican1.1%(527)
Spaniard0.5%(243)
Mexican0.5%(216)
Colombian0.3%(149)
Dominican0.3%(116)
Costa Rican0.1%(51)
Chilean0.1%(37)
Peruvian0.1%(37)
Guatemalan0.1%(29)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Cuban0%(15)
Asian origin
Chinese0.7%(344)
Japanese0.2%(92)
Asian Indian0.2%(81)
Filipino0.2%(80)
Korean0%(19)
Laotian0%(12)
Ancestry
Irish16.4%(7,567)
English15.8%(7,293)
German14.6%(6,747)
Italian9.8%(4,538)
American9.4%(4,328)
Polish2.6%(1,196)
French1.7%(778)
Scottish1.7%(772)
Dutch1.5%(691)
Welsh0.9%(405)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(357)
Swedish0.8%(351)
+ 36 more ancestry groups with data
Ukrainian0.7%(305)
Arab0.6%(281)
Russian0.5%(246)
British0.5%(236)
Norwegian0.4%(173)
Czech0.4%(165)
Hungarian0.3%(157)
Syrian0.3%(146)
Nigerian0.2%(107)
Lebanese0.2%(90)
Danish0.2%(86)
West Indian0.2%(85)
Greek0.2%(80)
Canadian0.2%(78)
Slovak0.1%(69)
Swiss0.1%(63)
Lithuanian0.1%(61)
Jamaican0.1%(58)
Austrian0.1%(48)
Turkish0.1%(35)
Serbian0.1%(26)
Brazilian0%(23)
Croatian0%(23)
Romanian0%(15)
Slovene0%(15)
Ethiopian0%(13)
Haitian0%(13)
Iranian0%(12)
Finnish0%(4)
Latvian0%(2)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.1%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 18.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 82.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.8%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.3 min
+50%since 2000
from 14.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.3%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 77.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.8%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.8%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2011
from 61.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.4%
−26.5 ptssince 2009
from 64.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.2%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 11.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.5%
−87.6 ptssince 2013
from 92.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+18.0 ptssince 2017
from 70.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2016
from 96.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.3%(7,799)
Married47.6%(9,222)
Widowed3.5%(682)
Divorced8.6%(1,658)
Women 15+
Never married37.2%(7,412)
Married43.8%(8,737)
Widowed7.8%(1,555)
Divorced11.3%(2,246)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Cortland County to nearby counties

CORTLAND COUNTY VS
Tompkins County
Income$74,024+5%
Home value$290,900+79%
Population104,047+127%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CORTLAND COUNTY VS
Chenango County
Income$62,948−11%
Home value$137,900−15%
Population45,715same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CORTLAND COUNTY VS
Onondaga County
Income$76,945+9%
Home value$200,200+24%
Population466,584+918%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CORTLAND COUNTY VS
Madison County
Income$75,499+7%
Home value$184,600+14%
Population67,120+46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cortland County, New York?

Cortland County, New York has about 46,246 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Cortland County, New York earns about $70,418 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cortland County, New York expensive?

In Cortland County, New York, the median home is worth about $162,100, and the typical rent is about $984 a month.

How educated are people in Cortland County, New York?

About 29.1% of adults age 25 and over in Cortland County, New York hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cortland County, New York?

About 12.8% of people in Cortland County, New York live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cortland County, New York grown since 1990?

Yes, Cortland County, New York has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,717 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

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13 census tracts
Census Tract 9710Census Tract 9711Census Tract 9709Census Tract 9712Census Tract 9707Census Tract 9705Census Tract 9702.02Census Tract 9701Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9706Census Tract 9708Census Tract 9704Census Tract 9702.01
11 ZIP codes
ZIP 13045ZIP 13077ZIP 13803ZIP 13040ZIP 13101ZIP 13158ZIP 13141ZIP 13784ZIP 13863ZIP 13087ZIP 13738
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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