Cortland County, New York Income Statistics
Cortland County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Cortland County Below averageLess wealthy than 72% of counties in New York
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cortland County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,777 | $86,556 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,013 | $70,316 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.8% | 16.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.5% | 17.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cortland County is about 19% lower than in New York. Income has been growing slower in Cortland County (3.9%/yr) than in New York (4.5%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Cortland County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the New York average of 17%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Cortland County, New York grew by 55.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,777 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cortland County
| Metric | Cortland County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.557 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,335 | $77,531 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,663 | $67,892 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.9% | 12.4% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Cortland County, it is 0.535, lower than New York's 0.557, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 20% more than women's income in Cortland County, New York. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $373,520 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cortland County, New York has narrowed from about 20% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2017, and was narrowest at 14% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,444 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cortland County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.8% | 15.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 28 | 22 |
Approximately 1,113 people are unemployed in Cortland County, New York.
The average commute time in Cortland County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 28 minutes in New York.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cortland County, New York has fallen from 7.6% to 4.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.7% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.5% in 2018.
Cortland County, NY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cortland County, NY is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 46,246 residents against a local median of 103,844. Cortland County, NY's unemployment, at 4.6%, runs 17% below the 5.5% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.9% on unemployment, so Cortland County, NY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Cortland County, NY has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortland County, NY | 46,246 | $69,777 #4/6 | 3.9%/yr #4/6 | 4.6% #1/6 | 0.535 #4/6 |
| Tompkins County, NY | 103,844 | $74,388 | 4.0%/yr | 5.5% | 0.596 |
| Onondaga County, NY | 470,361 | $77,376 | 4.1%/yr | 5.2% | 0.531 |
| Chenango County, NY | 46,321 | $63,798 | 4.0%/yr | 6.4% | 0.495 |
| Tioga County, NY | 47,858 | $72,215 | 2.8%/yr | 5.5% | 0.518 |
| Broome County, NY | 197,289 | $63,938 | 3.7%/yr | 7.1% | 0.560 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cortland County, New York has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with New York, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Cortland County, New York.
How Rich Is Cortland County, New York?
Cortland County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,777, about 19% lower than the New York average of $86,556.
How fast is household income rising in Cortland County, New York?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cortland County, New York rose 56%, from $44,862 to $69,777. Over the same years, income here kept pace with New York as a whole: +56% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Cortland County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cortland County, New York was $67,705, up 3% from $65,430 in 2022. The New York median that year was $85,199.
What was the median household income in Cortland County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cortland County, New York was $59,414. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $69,777.
Is unemployment high in Cortland County, New York?
Unemployment in Cortland County, New York is only 4.6%, well below the New York rate of 6.4%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cortland County, New York?
The Gini coefficient in Cortland County is 0.535. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Cortland County, New York?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cortland County, New York has narrowed from about 20% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2017, and was narrowest at 14% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,444 since 2009.
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