Median Age
33 Years
Largest Age Group
15-24 Years
Approximately 22% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
16%
Cortland, NY
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,025
Population
17,476
Renter Mix
58% Rent
A quiet small town with an unexpectedly vibrant nightlife scene
College Town
•
Vibrant
•
Live Music
Set along Interstate 81 and nearly 34 miles south of Syracuse, Cortland is small town that combines all the charm of a central New York locale with the nightlife, entertainment, and atmosphere of a bigger city. This is thanks to SUNY Cortland campus and its diverse student body that sits on the western side of town. When class is in session, the array of restaurants and bars scattered around town remain buzzing.
Main Street and Port Watson Street hold the majority of the entertainment hotspots. There are live music venues that put on popular shows every weekend. A multitude of parks scattered around Cortland make it easy to enjoy a day outside or just a lunchbreak. There are affordable apartments, historic homes, and student housing aplenty in this laidback New York State town. I-81 will carry you up to Syracuse, or anywhere else in this scenic part of the state.
Explore the City
Explore the history of Cortland at the 1890 House Museum.
Yaman Park has a swimming beach for residents to enjoy.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$51,991
Average: $67,492
Education
4,693
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
8,256
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Cortland has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
58%
Non-Renters
42%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
19%
Other Education
81%
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Cortland, NY is $718 for a studio, $1,025 for one bedroom, $1,277 for two bedrooms, and $3,208 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Cortland has increased by 2.1% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,025/month
635 Sq Ft
House
$3,925/month
1,710 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Cortland, NY is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
30
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
271 Students
Public
Grades K-5
291 Students
Public
Grades K-5
417 Students
Public
Grades K-6
230 Students
Public
Grades K-6
116 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
274 Students
Cortland Junior Senior High School
Public
Grades 9-12
582 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture
- Tuller Hill State Forest
- Greek Peak Ski Area
- Baker School House State Forest
- Hoxie Gorge State Forest
Commuter Rail
Airports
- Ithaca Tompkins International
Top Apartments in Cortland
Houses for Rent in Cortland
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.