Cortland city, New York Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Cortland city is a small city located in New York, within Cortland County. The total population is 17,465. It ranks as the 109th most populous out of 1,287 cities and towns in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cortland city is 27.2 years. This is 31% lower than the state median of 39.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cortland city is $55,368. This is 35% lower than the state median of $84,578. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.9%. This is 60% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.7%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.2%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 6.2%. The median home value is $143,800. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $403,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Cortland city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 44.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% lower than the state average of 54.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cortland city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (85.6% vs 53.4%). The Black or African American population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.4%) is well below the state average of 19.6%. The Asian population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 8.8%.

Education

26.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cortland city, New York is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,287 Census-designated places in New York. For official data, visit data.census.gov.