Living in Cortland, Illinois
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Cortland · Census data 2020–2024
Cortland has 4,564 residents with a median age of 31.5. The median household income is $73,971 (11% lower than the Illinois median), the median home value is $233,200, the median rent is $1,552/month.
Cortland at a glance
- Population
- 4,564
- Median age
- 31.5State: 39
- Median household income
- $73,971State: $83,390
- Median home value
- $233,200State: $263,300
- Median rent
- $1,552/moState: $1,274
- Homeowners
- 78%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 26.7%
- Average commute
- 26 min
Is Cortland a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 11% lower than the state median; an average commute of 26 minutes; a poverty rate of 7%.
Cons: Median household income 11% lower than the Illinois median; unemployment of 8.2%.
The weather is best in June to September.
Cost of living in Cortland
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Cortland the median home value is $233,200, 30% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $1,552 per month, which is 34.5% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,919 a month in housing costs.
Cortland median household income
The median household income in Cortland is $73,971 and the income per person is $32,888. 7% of residents live below the poverty line (Illinois: 11.8%).
Housing in Cortland: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 1,558
- Owner-occupied
- 78%
- Renter-occupied
- 22%
- Vacant
- 0%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1998
- Average household size
- 2.93
Cortland demographics
- Population
- 4,564
- Median age
- 31.5
- Under 18
- 29%
- 65 and older
- 7.9%
- Households
- 1,558
- Foreign-born
- 4.3%
- Veterans
- 3.3%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Cortland ›
Education in Cortland
26.7% of adults 25 and older in Cortland have a bachelor's degree or higher (Illinois: 37.8%), and 10% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Cortland
- Unemployment rate
- 8.2%State: 5.8%
- Average commute
- 26 minState: 28 min
- Work from home
- 9.6%
- Drive alone
- 80%
- Public transit
- 1.9%
- Walk to work
- 0.5%
- Homes with broadband
- 95.3%
Cortland vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortland | 4,564 | $73,971 | $233,200 | $1,552 |
| DeKalb | 40,443 | $46,481 | $204,700 | $1,029 |
| Sycamore | 18,559 | $84,120 | $265,700 | $1,140 |
| Maple Park | 1,573 | $107,045 | $288,400 | $1,728 |
| Virgil | 312 | $93,542 | $296,600 | $1,118 |
| Malta | 1,274 | $80,625 | $180,300 | $1,063 |
| Burlington | 425 | $84,219 | $296,200 | $1,517 |
| Genoa | 5,492 | $82,128 | $225,200 | $940 |
| Kaneville | 523 | $86,875 | $318,100 | $875 |
More for people moving to Cortland
Cortland ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Cortland: FAQ
What is the median household income in Cortland, IL?
The median household income in Cortland is $73,971, 11% lower than the Illinois median of $83,390 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Cortland?
The median home value in Cortland is $233,200, compared with $263,300 in Illinois.
How much is rent in Cortland?
The median gross rent in Cortland is $1,552 per month, about 34.5% of household income.
Is Cortland, IL a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 11% lower than the state median; an average commute of 26 minutes; a poverty rate of 7%. Minuses: median household income 11% lower than the Illinois median; unemployment of 8.2%.
What is the median age in Cortland?
The median age in Cortland is 31.5 years (Illinois: 39).
How long is the commute in Cortland?
The average commute to work in Cortland is 26 minutes; 9.6% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Cortland?
The unemployment rate in Cortland is 8.2% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Cortland?
26.7% of adults in Cortland have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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