Small-town market profile · New York
Cortland, NY area market data
How the Cortland area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 45,850
- −1.9% since 2020
- Households
- 18,999
- Median household income
- $70,418
- +25.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $162,100
- Jobs located here
- 17,001
- Highest market score
- 80
- Home repair trades, #11 of 526 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Cortland area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Cortland area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Cortland area has an estimated 45,850 people and 18,999 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Cortland area from 2020 to 2025 at −1.9%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the Cortland area is $70,418, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 25.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Cortland area runs highest on groceries (an index of 101, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on pets (63).
Of the business types scored in the Cortland area, home repair companies (80), child care centers and preschools (75) and clothing and shoe stores (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For home repair companies, that ranks #11 of 526 scored small-town markets.
The Cortland area is made up of one county, Cortland County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (30% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (69% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Cortland area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Cortland area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home repair trades | 80 | #11 of 526 | 7 | 3.7 | $7.8M | 322 | 16 |
| Child care and preschools | 75 | #42 of 454 | 6 | 3.2 | $1.5M | 150 | 6 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 74 | #67 of 536 | 19 | 10.0 | $2.1M | 162 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 72 | #84 of 536 | 31 | 16.3 | $1.3M | 143 | 4 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 70 | #50 of 533 | 18 | 9.5 | Index only | 326 | 9 |
| Real estate | 69 | #53 of 536 | 26 | 13.7 | Index only | 284 | 15 |
| Spas and skin care | 63 | #114 of 504 | 10 | 5.3 | $1.7M | 200 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 62 | #111 of 387 | 6 | 3.2 | $2.9M | 174 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 62 | #130 of 458 | 6 | 3.2 | $3.5M | 195 | 17 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 59 | #125 of 378 | 6 | 3.2 | $2.4M | 119 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 57 | #208 of 529 | 16 | 8.4 | $7.6M | 97 | 8 |
| Barbershops | 56 | #154 of 377 | 7 | 3.7 | $2.5M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | 54 | #61 of 150 | 5 | 2.6 | $7.8M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 53 | #229 of 526 | 13 | 6.8 | $1.6M | 163 | 12 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 53 | #254 of 538 | 40 | 21.1 | $3M | 90 | 19 |
| Car washes and detailing | 52 | #196 of 441 | 5 | 2.6 | $3.2M | 126 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 52 | #257 of 537 | 24 | 12.6 | $2.8M | 93 | 35 |
| Veterinarians | 49 | #209 of 398 | 5 | 2.6 | $2.2M | 81 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 48 | #218 of 400 | 7 | 3.7 | $3M | 124 | 7 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 48 | #285 of 538 | 93 | 48.9 | $734K | 111 | 36 |
| Pizza | 47 | #290 of 520 | 17 | 8.9 | $4M | 79 | 35 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 47 | #307 of 538 | 68 | 35.8 | $257K | 121 | 15 |
| Grocery stores | 46 | #303 of 506 | 15 | 7.9 | $8.1M | 87 | 11 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 43 | #248 of 399 | 9 | 4.7 | $2.5M | 85 | 15 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 43 | #356 of 535 | 23 | 12.1 | $625K | 94 | 8 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 40 | #368 of 538 | 136 | 71.6 | $153K | 100 | 40 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 40 | #370 of 529 | 16 | 8.4 | $4.3M | 115 | 23 |
| Hair salons | 40 | #380 of 538 | 43 | 22.6 | $406K | 94 | 11 |
| Chiropractors | 39 | #294 of 426 | 12 | 6.3 | $1.7M | 73 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 39 | #389 of 536 | 27 | 14.2 | $1.4M | 58 | 11 |
| Gyms | 38 | #383 of 506 | 16 | 8.4 | $899K | 69 | 5 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 38 | #389 of 538 | 197 | 103.7 | $347K | 93 | 95 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 37 | #288 of 387 | 5 | 2.6 | $3.2M | 103 | 8 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 33 | #412 of 481 | 18 | 9.5 | $1.2M | 74 | 22 |
| Insurance agencies | 33 | #417 of 537 | 23 | 12.1 | $1.3M | 102 | 18 |
| Funeral homes | 27 | #319 of 365 | 7 | 3.7 | $352K | 52 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 25 | #491 of 527 | 21 | 11.1 | $522K | 59 | 9 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 24 | #485 of 507 | 22 | 11.6 | $3.1M | 75 | 23 |
| Auto repair and car care | 22 | #502 of 538 | 73 | 38.4 | $218K | 81 | 41 |
| Auto repair shops | 21 | #502 of 538 | 45 | 23.7 | $353K | 79 | 29 |
| Tire shops | 20 | #396 of 431 | 9 | 4.7 | $1.8M | 70 | 8 |
| Pest control | 16 | #83 of 85 | 6 | 3.2 | $3.7M | 36 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 16 | #373 of 387 | 9 | 4.7 | $1.2M | 48 | 5 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $13.7M | 288 | 10 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $5.2M | 166 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | Index only | 41 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $7.5M | 116 | 7 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $3.7M | 81 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | Index only | 192 | 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $6.9M | 28 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $7.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $27.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $39M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $54.8M | Too few | 6 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $14.4M | Too few | 5 |
Household spending in the Cortland area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $15.9M | $836 | 87 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $37.5M | $1,975 | 76 |
| Food away from home | $68.3M | $3,595 | 88 |
| Groceries | $121.7M | $6,405 | 101 |
| Personal care products and services | $17.5M | $920 | 92 |
| Child care and other personal services | $9M | $475 | 82 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $14.4M | $757 | 77 |
| Medical and dental services | $20.8M | $1,097 | 85 |
| Pets | $11M | $577 | 63 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $39M | $2,053 | 100 |
| Vehicle insurance | $29.6M | $1,557 | 80 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $54.8M | $2,883 | 96 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $22.4M | $1,177 | 83 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $320M | $16,845 | 101 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Cortland area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 45,850−1.9% since 2020
- Households
- 18,999
- Median age
- 39.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 66%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 499 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 93
- Median household income
- $70,418+25.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $85,337
- Median home value
- $162,100
- Jobs located here
- 17,001
- Daytime population
- 43,892Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Cortland area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Cortland area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Cortland area 1
- Cortland County, NY46,246 people
Other markets based in New York 12
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area19,723,168 people
- Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area1,161,343 people
- Rochester, NY metro area1,058,413 people
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area906,052 people
- Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY metro area704,836 people
- Syracuse, NY metro area656,410 people
- Utica-Rome, NY metro area288,881 people
- Binghamton, NY metro area245,242 people
- Kingston, NY metro area182,601 people
- Glens Falls, NY metro area126,039 people
- Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area115,040 people
- Ithaca, NY metro area104,537 people
Questions
How fast is the Cortland, NY area growing?
Population estimates put the Cortland area at 45,850 people in 2025, down 1.9% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 18,999 households. Median household income rose 25.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Cortland, NY area spend?
Households in the Cortland area spend about $320M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $121.7M on groceries and $68.3M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Cortland area spend the most on groceries (an index of 101, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on pets (63).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Cortland, NY area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Cortland area are for home repair companies (80), child care centers and preschools (75) and clothing and shoe stores (74). The Cortland area ranks #11 of 526 scored small-town markets for home repair companies.
How does the Cortland, NY area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Cortland area is $70,418 a year, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $162,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Cortland area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (30% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (69% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 43 of the 56 business types have a score in the Cortland area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Cortland area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in New York · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Cortland area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Cortland area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.