Population 24,940 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Cortland
Household size in Cortland
| Period | Cortland | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.39 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.15 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.25 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Cortland are small: just 2.15 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.40, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 33 of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Cortland
| Period | Cortland | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.8 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.6 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.0 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Cortland is young: half of its residents are under 34.6, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 35.6, even as the national median rose. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 27 are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Cortland
| Period | Cortland | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Cortland (10.6%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Compared with other New York cities, though, Cortland has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Cortland
Renters in Cortland
| Period | Cortland | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.7% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 44.0% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.7% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 46.3% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Cortland than nationally: 46.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. More than a third of owners (36.1%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 40 have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Cortland
| Period | Cortland | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.5% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.5% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Cortland as nationally: 10.4%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.1 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Cortland
| Period | Cortland | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1951 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Cortland is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1957, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1951 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Cortland
| Period | Cortland | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $655 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $728 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $893 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,024 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$369 | +$698 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Cortland costs $1,024 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $369 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.4% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Cortland
Bachelor's degrees in Cortland
| Period | Cortland | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.7% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.9% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.8% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.0% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Cortland than nationally: 29.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Cortland
| Period | Cortland | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.7% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.7% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.3% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Cortland have finished high school as nationally: 89.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in New York overall (87.3%). Cortland has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of New York cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Cortland
| Period | Cortland | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Cortland runs below the national rate: 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.5 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Cortland compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortland | 2.15 | 34.6 | 10.6% | 46.3% | 10.4% | 1957 | $1,024 | 29.0% | 89.1% | 4.5% |
| Munsons Corners | 2.56 | 45.9 | 12.8% | 15.7% | 7.5% | 1970 | $991 | 36.2% | 96.4% | 9.3% |
| Blodgett Mills | 2.38 | 55.5 | 4.9% | 11.6% | 7.5% | 1969 | $881 | 29.5% | 95.6% | 3.9% |
| South Cortland | 2.41 | 45.0 | 10.5% | 15.1% | 9.2% | 1975 | $1,130 | 45.6% | 94.1% | 2.1% |
| Homer | 2.23 | 45.9 | 12.8% | 22.9% | 7.2% | 1960 | $1,260 | 37.1% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
| McGraw | 2.30 | 46.2 | 9.5% | 16.3% | 4.4% | 1953 | $852 | 21.5% | 93.0% | 2.0% |
| Mc Lean | 2.57 | 40.0 | 12.5% | 28.7% | 4.4% | 1985 | $1,319 | 26.6% | 87.2% | 0.7% |
| Virgil | 2.37 | 45.9 | 12.0% | 19.5% | 7.7% | 1978 | $1,233 | 31.9% | 93.3% | 3.5% |
| Summerhill | 2.36 | 44.9 | 8.8% | 20.6% | 11.6% | 1972 | $1,414 | 21.4% | 91.9% | 1.4% |
| East Homer | 2.21 | 52.4 | 15.0% | 29.2% | 3.4% | 1973 | $1,671 | 13.1% | 95.9% | 0.3% |
| Little York | 2.20 | 48.0 | 16.7% | 18.6% | 7.6% | 1966 | $1,449 | 27.0% | 95.9% | 1.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Yorkville, IL · Alton, IL · Ashland, CA · Owosso, MI · Martinsville, VA · Maumelle, AR · Maywood, CA · McKeesport, PA · Meadville, PA · Mira Loma, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Cortland. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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