What is the median household income in Cortland, NY?

Name: Income and affordability in Cortland, NY, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

The median household income in Cortland, NY is $59,482 (±$3,769) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Paying the median gross rent of $975 a month would take about $39,000 a year at the common guideline of spending no more than 30% of income on rent.

In Cortland, the median household income went from $44,317 in 2015–2019 to $59,482 in 2020–2024 (+34.2%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years; the change is not measurably different from the rise in prices.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Median household income: $59,482 (±$3,769)
Median renter income: $39,236 (±$3,542)
Income to afford median rent: about $39,000

Income in Cortland against Cortland County, its state and the nation

Income, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Cortland	Cortland County	New York	United States
Median household income	$59,482 (±$3,769)	$70,418 (±$2,912)	$85,974 (±$402)	$80,734
Median renter household income	$39,236 (±$3,542)	$42,202 (±$4,366)	$57,803 (±$395)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$85,734 (±$9,044)	$85,175 (±$4,372)	$114,563 (±$568)	$100,009
Median gross rent	$975 (±$58)	$984 (±$50)	$1,621 (±$7)	$1,413

In Cortland, median household income is lower than in Cortland County ($70,418).

It is also lower than in New York ($85,974).

It is lower than the national figure ($80,734).

In Cortland County, Cortland ranks 15 of 16 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median household income.

Statewide, it ranks 861 of 999.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How much you need to earn to rent in Cortland

Many landlords and housing programs use 30% of gross income as the most a household should spend on rent.

At that guideline, the median gross rent of $975 a month ($11,700 a year) needs an income of about $39,000 a year.

The median renting household in Cortland earns $39,236 a year.

This is arithmetic on the published medians, not a rule any landlord must follow; screening criteria vary and some places limit how income may be weighed.

Income against housing costs since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Median household income	$44,317 (±$5,002)	$59,482 (±$3,769)	+34.2%	No measurable change after inflation
Median gross rent	$754 (±$30)	$975 (±$58)	+29.3%	No measurable change after inflation
Median home value	$109,400 (±$3,498)	$152,600 (±$5,699)	+39.5%	Up after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Median household income in places near Cortland

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Cortland
Place	Distance	Median household income	Compared with this place
Cortland	—	$59,482 (±$3,769)	—
Munsons Corners	2.2 mi	$56,069 (±$22,078)	Not measurably different
Cortland West	2.4 mi	$127,019 (±$34,577)	Higher
Village of Homer	2.5 mi	$72,472 (±$10,536)	Higher
Town of Cortlandville	3.1 mi	$73,617 (±$9,707)	Higher
Village of McGraw	4.2 mi	$64,185 (±$11,759)	Not measurably different
Town of Homer	4.3 mi	$74,012 (±$4,632)	Higher
Town of Virgil	5.6 mi	$91,094 (±$20,632)	Higher
Town of Solon	8.0 mi	$80,000 (±$19,258)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Cortland West, NY ($127,019), Village of Homer, NY ($72,472), Town of Cortlandville, NY ($73,617).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Median household income across Cortland County, place by place

Rank	Place	Median household income
9	Town of Homer	$74,012 (±$4,632)
10	Town of Cortlandville	$73,617 (±$9,707)
11	Town of Cincinnatus	$68,698 (±$7,664)
12	Town of Marathon	$64,438 (±$6,728)
13	Town of Lapeer	$62,955 (±$14,358)
14	Town of Freetown	$62,386 (±$28,700)
15	Cortland	$59,482 (±$3,769)
16	Town of Taylor	$57,708 (±$30,397)

Showing 8 of 16 places in Cortland County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Cortland

What is the median household income in Cortland?

The median household income in Cortland is $59,482 (±$3,769) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How much do you need to make to afford rent in Cortland?

About $39,000 a year, if rent is to stay at or below 30% of income at the median gross rent of $975 a month.

Have incomes in Cortland kept up with inflation?

In Cortland, the median household income went from $44,317 in 2015–2019 to $59,482 in 2020–2024 (+34.2%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years; the change is not measurably different from the rise in prices.

What do renters earn in Cortland?

The median renting household in Cortland, NY earns $39,236 (±$3,542) a year.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Cortland city, Cortland County, New York (county subdivision:18388, in state:36 county:023).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are B19013_001E, B19013_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B25077_001E, B25077_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.