Cortland County, New York: commercial real estate data.
Cortland County, New York had an estimated 45,945 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 46,808, across 499 square miles. County output reached $2.37 bn in 2024, 981 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 32 7(a) approvals worth $14.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Cortland County
How many people live in Cortland County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202446,246
- Households18,999
- Average household size2.43
- Median household income$70,418
- Median age37.0
- Median gross rent$984 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$162,100
- Home value to household income2.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher29.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over29,317
- Population under 188,547
- Share under 1818.5 percent
- Population 65 and over7,929
- Share 65 and over17.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6429,770
- Civilian labor force24,278
- Unemployment rate4.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.4 percent
- Rank by population among New York counties52nd of 62
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1073rd of 3,222
Cortland County is the 52nd largest of 62 New York counties by population. A median home costs 2.3 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 18.5 percent against 17.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Cortland County
Is Cortland County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202445,945
- Census 2020 base population46,808
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.84 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-12
- Births, 2024444
- Deaths, 2024482
- Natural change, 2024-38
- Net domestic migration, 20241
- Net international migration, 202425
- Total net migration, 202426
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-552
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2459th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.84 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Cortland County
Where are people moving to Cortland County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving943
- People arriving, from those returns1,474
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,054
- Net household movement-111
- Adjusted gross income arriving$50.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-8.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$53,484
- Average income of a leaving household$55,930
- Largest single originTompkins County (194 households)
- Largest single destinationTompkins County (152 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tompkins County | 194 | 298 | $11.1 m |
| Onondaga County | 138 | 213 | $8.7 m |
| Broome County | 62 | 101 | $2.9 m |
| Cayuga County | 55 | 92 | $2.3 m |
| Chenango County | 29 | 49 | $1.0 m |
Households arriving report $2,446 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Tompkins County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Cortland County
What is the Cortland County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.37 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.29 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.8 percent
- GDP change over five years26.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the New York areas BEA publishes50th of 62
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1141st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$51,293
Output grew 3.8 percent in the latest year and 26.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Cortland County
Employment by industry in Cortland County
- Covered employment, annual average16,911
- Establishments reporting1,115
- Average annual pay$55,778
- Average weekly wage$1,073
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,380
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,114
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,284
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,256
- Manufacturing, employment2,113
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$75,674
- Retail trade, employment1,931
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,151
- Other services, except public administration, employment827
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment576
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 2,380 | 109 | $63,114 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,284 | 122 | $24,256 |
| Manufacturing | 2,113 | 61 | $75,674 |
| Retail trade | 1,931 | 146 | $36,151 |
| Other services, except public administration | 827 | 107 | $45,606 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 576 | 65 | $66,941 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 493 | 27 | $19,841 |
| Construction | 410 | 90 | $73,784 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 2,380 jobs, 14.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Cortland County
How many businesses are in Cortland County?
- Establishments, all industries981
- Employment at those establishments14,353
- Annual payroll$618.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cortland County
Building permits in Cortland County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202441
- Declared construction value permitted$7.9 m
- Single family units authorized24
- Multifamily units authorized17
- Multifamily share of units41.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$191,565
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.2
Multifamily is 41.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Cortland County
SBA loans in Cortland County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded32
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$14.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$460,297
- Median 7(a) approval$110,850
- 10th percentile approval$15,200
- 90th percentile approval$1,190,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)298
- Jobs per approval9.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active11
- Distinct industries receiving approvals22
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer15.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms5
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter26
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals6.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countAll Other Specialty Trade Contractors (4)
- Most active lenderKeyBank National Association (10)
- 504 approvals recorded7
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.9 m
- Average 504 approval$265,429
- Median 504 approval$281,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval4.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.8
- Most active CDCEmpire State Certified Development Corporation (7)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$16.6 m
The average approval of $460,297 sits well above the median of $110,850, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 15.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cortland County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Cortland County
Do SBA loans in Cortland County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded9
- Paid in full9
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full9
- Status: Exempt from disclosure21
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 9 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cortland County
SBA lending by place in Cortland County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Cortland, approvals21
- De Ruyter, approvals3
- Homer, approvals3
- Marathon, approvals2
- Harford, approvals1
- Willet, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Cortland | 21 | $11,161,300 |
| De Ruyter | 3 | $2,800,000 |
| Homer | 3 | $236,000 |
| Marathon | 2 | $475,200 |
| Harford | 1 | $30,000 |
| Willet | 1 | $17,000 |
| Dryden | 1 | $10,000 |
Cortland accounts for 21 approvals against 3 in De Ruyter. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cortland County
How large is Cortland County?
- Land area499 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New York counties43rd of 62
- Width, east to west20.9 mi
- Height, north to south26.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land93
- Establishments per square mile1.97
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cortland County
Flood risk in Cortland County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book19
- Of those, participating in the NFIP18
- NFIP participation rate94.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Cortland County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The EPA places Cortland County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 94.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Cortland County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Cortland County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202446,246
- Households18,999
- Average household size2.43
- Median household income$70,418
- Median age37.0
Common questions
Cortland County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Cortland County, New York?
The Census Bureau estimates 45,945 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 46,246, in 18,999 households, ranking 52nd of 62 New York counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Cortland County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.84 percent since the 2020 census base of 46,808, to 45,945 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 444 births against 482 deaths, with net migration of 26. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Cortland County?
$70,418. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,100, which is 2.3 times income, and median gross rent is $984 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Cortland County?
981 establishments, employing 14,353 people with an annual payroll of $618.8 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Cortland County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 2,380 jobs, 14.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 16,911 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,778, or $1,073 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Cortland County?
32 7(a) approvals totaling $14.7 m since FY2020, across 11 lenders, with a median approval of $110,850, plus 7 504 approvals worth $1.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Cortland County?
41 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $7.9 m. Multifamily was 41.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Cortland County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Cortland County come from?
The largest single origin is Tompkins County, with 194 households. Arriving households report an average income of $53,484 against $55,930 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Cortland County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Cortland County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Cortland County
Cities and places in Cortland.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Cortland County. All 8 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortland | city | 17,450 | 21 | Wholly in this county |
| Homer | village | 3,114 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Munsons Corners | CDP | 2,662 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cortland West | CDP | 1,020 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| McGraw | village | 974 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Marathon | village | 952 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Virgil | CDP | 220 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Blodgett Mills | CDP | 212 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 6 of the county's 32 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Cortland County, the largest being De Ruyter (3), Harford (1), Willet (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby