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City Report · NY

Cortland

Pop. 17,450·112th most expensive in New York·Cortland rents are up 10.5% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,309/mo
Year-over-Year
+10.5%
Month-over-Month
-4.2%
vs US Median
-$653
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Cortland · $1,309
More affordable than 87% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
26% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,309/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$52,000/yr
Local median income
$59,482/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Cortland's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,180
1 BR
$1,300
2 BR
$1,500
3 BR
$1,860
4 BR+
$2,010
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,500/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,309 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$15,708/yr
At $1,309/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (10.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+10.5% YoY, -4.2% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Cortland, NY is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 27.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
17,450
Median income
$59,482
Median age
27.4
Renters
54.1%
Age distribution
14.8%
44.5%
18.5%
12.6%
Under 1814.8%
18–3444.5%
35–5418.5%
55–649.6%
65+12.6%
Gender
48.1%
51.9%
Male48.1%
Female51.9%
Race & ethnicity
87.1%
White87.1%
Black3.1%
Hispanic5.5%
Asian1.7%
Other2.5%
Education (25+)
33%
30.5%
27.2%
No HS diploma9.3%
HS diploma33%
Some college30.5%
Bachelor's+27.2%
Housing tenure
45.9%
54.1%
Owner45.9%
Renter54.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Cortland, NY has changed in 5 years

Income
$50,697 → $59,482
up 17.3%
Population
17,577 → 17,450
down 0.7%
Renter share
53.7% → 54.1%
+0.4 pts
Bachelor's+
27.8% → 27.2%
-0.6 pts

Census figures show median household income at $59,482 today, compared with $50,697 five years earlier.

Community

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View Cortland rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Cortland on your salary?

At $1,309/mo, how Cortland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Cortland rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Cortland. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Cortland

About renting in Cortland, NY

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Cortland is $1,309/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,180/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,500/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,300/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,860/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($59,482/yr), Cortland ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Cortland an affordable city for renters?

Cortland is considered affordable for renters. At $1,309/mo, rent takes approximately 26% of the local median household income ($59,482/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Cortland falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Cortland?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $52,000/year (~$25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,309/mo in Cortland. The local median household income is $59,482/yr, meaning the typical Cortland household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Cortland?

Rent in Cortland has increased 10.5% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Cortland rent compare to other cities in New York?

Cortland is one of the more affordable cities in New York for rent, ranking #112 out of 125 tracked cities at $1,309/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Cortland?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Cortland ($1,309/mo): Endicott ($1,246/mo), Johnson City ($1,280/mo).

What percentage of Cortland residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 54.1% of Cortland households are renters, while 45.9% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Cortland has a strong rental market.

How does Cortland rent compare to the national average?

Cortland's median rent of $1,309/mo is $653 (33%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within New York, it ranks #112 out of 125 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
26%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,309/mo, rent takes ~26% of Cortland's median household income ($59,482/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Cortland 26%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4–10.9%
Run the Cortland affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Cortland
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Cortland, NY

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