Signals
Cortland
Sterling
Growth
15 · Bottom 6%
vs23 · Bottom 11%
Climate
54 · Bottom 10%
vs57 · Bottom 18%
Physical resilience
48 · Bottom 40%
vs67 · Top 34%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
82 · Top 39%
vs79 · Top 44%
Economic stability
64 · Top 33%
vs61 · Top 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Cortland | Sterling | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 46,246 | 54,947 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $70,418 | $67,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,752 | $37,312 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 93/sq mi | 80/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $162,100 | $127,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $984 | $856 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.3% | 76.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.1% | 20.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 12.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 31 | 27 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 0.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -18.4% | 3.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 79°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 13°F | 12°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.7" | 38.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 36 mi | 37 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 21.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.0 | 43.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Cortland
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Sterling
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Full profiles: Cortland, NY Micro Area · Sterling, IL Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology