Cortland receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Cortland
Johnson City
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 30%
vs50 · Bottom 37%
Growth
26 · Bottom 13%
vs32 · Bottom 20%
Climate
54 · Bottom 4%
vs60 · Bottom 13%
Physical resilience
49 · Bottom 42%
vs56 · Bottom 48%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 17%
vs91 · Top 30%
Access
82 · Bottom 25%
vs73 · Bottom 15%
Economic stability
39 · Bottom 16%
vs33 · Bottom 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Cortland | Johnson City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,450 | 14,940 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,482 | $56,283 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,083 | $33,450 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,481/sq mi | 3,282/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $152,600 | $117,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $975 | $1,031 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 45.9% | 52.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 29.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.8% | 19.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3 | 31 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.2 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 79°F | 78°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 13°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.7" | 42.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 35 mi | 48 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 18.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 27.4 | 40.7 | 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.
Johnson City
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
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
Johnson City
52
Your Score
52
Area Score
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Full profiles: Cortland, NY · Johnson City, NY · How this is calculated: methodology