City profile
Cortland, NY
Cortland County · Population 17,450
Cortland is a town in Cortland County, NY with about 17,450 residents and a typical home value near $153,000. It is 31 miles from Syracuse, NY, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
25°F
Summer avg
72°F
Sunny days / yr
165
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$152,600
Typical monthly housing
$1,025
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
85
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.54%
- State income tax (top)
- 10.9%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.53%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Low · county score 51/100
Top hazards: Riverine flooding
Nearest major airport
35 mi to Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 47% Democratic / 53% Republican
Community
Population
17,450
Black population
3.1%
County
Cortland County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving NY than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home prices are still rising in 2026 — good for long-term value, less room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: winter storms, high taxes
Highlights
- About 17,450 residents
- Typical home value about $153,000
- 31 miles from Syracuse, NY
Trade-offs
- Smaller community with fewer local amenities
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.