salaryRent is lower than in 54% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 16.8 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $62,440 a year. That is $30 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other New York cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of New York. It is number 98 of 343 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Cortland?
Share of households by yearly income. 15.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Cortland
| Size | Cortland | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $772 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $893 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,124 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,372 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Cortland overall?
Everyday prices in New York overall are 8% above the U.S. average (index 107.9, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Cortland, so the New York figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Cortland
Life in Cortland
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cortland?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $502 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $152,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $15,260 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Cortland, NY?
Renting in Cortland costs a median of about $1,561 a month in 2026, including utilities. The New York median is $2,177.
How much do I need to make to live in Cortland?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $62,440 a year, or $30 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Cortland cheap or expensive?
Cortland is rated OK: rent takes 29.2% of the typical household income of $64,151. It ranks 98th cheapest of 343 New York cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Cortland?
The median homeowner in Cortland pays $4,190 a year in property taxes, about 2.75% of the median home value.
Is Cortland more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in New York are 8% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Cortland?
The median home value in Cortland is $152,600, about 2.4 times the typical yearly household income.
17,450 people live in Cortland. Numbers are typical (middle) values.