Cost of Living in Cortland County, New York
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Cortland County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Cortland County ranks #2,258 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 28%)
Sourced county brief
Cortland County Official GRAPI Estimated at 30.3 Percent
The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Cortland County was 30.3% according to the latest ACS 5-year data. This percentage is 0.5 percentage points above the New York unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 29.8%. The median gross rent in the county was recorded at $984 per month, which is $184 below the state unweighted county mean of $1,168. Median renter-household income was $42,202. Among owner-occupied units, the median home value was $162,100, positioned $119,100 below the state unweighted county mean of $281,200. Median selected monthly owner costs were $1,089, which is $263 below the New York unweighted county mean of $1,352. The median household income for all households was $70,418. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Cortland County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.3% of renter household income in Cortland County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $984 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,089. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $39,360 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The New York unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,168 per month. Cortland County's $984 median is 15.8% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Cortland County
Rent Burden
16.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,643
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.6%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Cortland County
Median home value is $162,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,294 vs. your max of $1,643.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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