Cortland and Hutchinson receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Cortland
Hutchinson
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 30%
vs46 · Bottom 28%
Growth
26 · Bottom 13%
vs37 · Bottom 27%
Climate
54 · Bottom 4%
vs61 · Bottom 17%
Physical resilience
49 · Bottom 42%
vs46 · Bottom 37%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 17%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
82 · Bottom 25%
vs76 · Bottom 18%
Economic stability
39 · Bottom 16%
vs46 · Bottom 25%
Measured values
| Metric | Cortland | Hutchinson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,450 | 39,709 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,482 | $58,687 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,083 | $30,596 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,481/sq mi | 1,562/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $152,600 | $125,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $975 | $881 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 45.9% | 62.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 19.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.8% | 14.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3 | 13 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.2 | 0.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 0.0% | -7.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 79°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 13°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.7" | 28.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 35 mi | 39 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 16.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 27.4 | 39.4 | 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.
Hutchinson
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, strong wind, wildfire.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Cortland
56
Your Score
54
Area Score
Hutchinson
56
Your Score
55
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Cortland, NY · Hutchinson, KS · How this is calculated: methodology