County profile · New York
Cortland County, NY market data
How Cortland County compares with other counties 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
- 75
- Home repair trades, #96 of 2,057 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Cortland County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Cortland County. 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
Cortland County has an estimated 45,850 people and 18,999 households. Population estimates put the population change in Cortland County from 2020 to 2025 at −1.9%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Cortland County 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 Cortland County 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 Cortland County, home repair companies (75), child care centers and preschools (71) and real estate agents and brokers (70) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For home repair companies, that ranks #96 of 2,057 scored counties.
Cortland County is part of the Cortland area. 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 Cortland County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Cortland County with other counties 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 counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home repair trades | 75 | #96 of 2,057 | 7 | 3.7 | $7.8M | 322 | 16 |
| Child care and preschools | 71 | #229 of 1,611 | 6 | 3.2 | $1.5M | 150 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 70 | #201 of 2,176 | 18 | 9.5 | Index only | 326 | 9 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 69 | #406 of 2,087 | 19 | 10.0 | $2.1M | 162 | 4 |
| Real estate | 68 | #265 of 2,229 | 26 | 13.7 | Index only | 284 | 15 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 65 | #540 of 2,210 | 31 | 16.3 | $1.3M | 143 | 4 |
| Nail salons | 60 | #390 of 1,328 | 6 | 3.2 | $2.9M | 174 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 60 | #502 of 1,656 | 6 | 3.2 | $3.5M | 195 | 17 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 58 | #431 of 1,334 | 6 | 3.2 | $2.4M | 119 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 58 | #569 of 1,769 | 10 | 5.3 | $1.7M | 200 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 53 | #1,004 of 2,261 | 16 | 8.4 | $7.6M | 97 | 8 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 52 | #840 of 1,886 | 13 | 6.8 | $1.6M | 163 | 12 |
| Barbershops | 50 | #689 of 1,356 | 7 | 3.7 | $2.5M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 49 | #737 of 1,451 | 5 | 2.6 | $3.2M | 126 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | 47 | #788 of 1,422 | 7 | 3.7 | $3M | 124 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 46 | #1,353 of 2,402 | 40 | 21.1 | $3M | 90 | 19 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 45 | #1,447 of 2,385 | 68 | 35.8 | $257K | 121 | 15 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 44 | #1,367 of 2,222 | 24 | 12.6 | $2.8M | 93 | 35 |
| Grocery stores | 43 | #1,252 of 2,070 | 15 | 7.9 | $8.1M | 87 | 11 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 43 | #1,379 of 2,088 | 23 | 12.1 | $625K | 94 | 8 |
| Veterinarians | 42 | #928 of 1,485 | 5 | 2.6 | $2.2M | 81 | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 42 | #936 of 1,493 | 9 | 4.7 | $2.5M | 85 | 15 |
| Pizza | 41 | #1,399 of 2,090 | 17 | 8.9 | $4M | 79 | 35 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 41 | #1,579 of 2,405 | 93 | 48.9 | $734K | 111 | 36 |
| Hair salons | 38 | #1,728 of 2,339 | 43 | 22.6 | $406K | 94 | 11 |
| Chiropractors | 37 | #1,099 of 1,490 | 12 | 6.3 | $1.7M | 73 | 4 |
| Gyms | 36 | #1,352 of 1,792 | 16 | 8.4 | $899K | 69 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 36 | #1,759 of 2,358 | 27 | 14.2 | $1.4M | 58 | 11 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 35 | #1,890 of 2,394 | 136 | 71.6 | $153K | 100 | 40 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 34 | #1,603 of 2,063 | 16 | 8.4 | $4.3M | 115 | 23 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 32 | #1,511 of 1,771 | 18 | 9.5 | $1.2M | 74 | 22 |
| Laundromats | 30 | #617 of 785 | 5 | 2.6 | $7.8M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 30 | #1,096 of 1,327 | 5 | 2.6 | $3.2M | 103 | 8 |
| Insurance agencies | 30 | #1,795 of 2,272 | 23 | 12.1 | $1.3M | 102 | 18 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 30 | #2,013 of 2,405 | 197 | 103.7 | $347K | 93 | 95 |
| Pet businesses | 26 | #1,984 of 2,200 | 21 | 11.1 | $522K | 59 | 9 |
| Funeral homes | 25 | #1,309 of 1,472 | 7 | 3.7 | $352K | 52 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 20 | #1,811 of 1,889 | 22 | 11.6 | $3.1M | 75 | 23 |
| Tire shops | 18 | #1,416 of 1,530 | 9 | 4.7 | $1.8M | 70 | 8 |
| Auto repair shops | 17 | #2,302 of 2,378 | 45 | 23.7 | $353K | 79 | 29 |
| Auto repair and car care | 17 | #2,316 of 2,401 | 73 | 38.4 | $218K | 81 | 41 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 16 | #1,405 of 1,461 | 9 | 4.7 | $1.2M | 48 | 5 |
| Pest control | 6 | #697 of 699 | 6 | 3.2 | $3.7M | 36 | Under 3 |
| 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 Cortland County
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 Cortland County
- 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 Cortland County?
These figures cover the whole county. 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 Cortland County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Cortland County, NY growing?
Population estimates put Cortland County 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 Cortland County, NY spend?
Households in Cortland County 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 Cortland County 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 Cortland County, NY?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Cortland County are for home repair companies (75), child care centers and preschools (71) and real estate agents and brokers (70). Cortland County ranks #96 of 2,057 scored counties for home repair companies.
How does Cortland County, NY compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Cortland County 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, Cortland County 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. 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 Cortland County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Cortland County. 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Cortland County?
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 Cortland County. 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.