Cortland is a small town of 521 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $71,563
and a 1.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cortland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Cortland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cortland city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.6
Cortland's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cortland costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cortland, NE
National Avg
Median Home Value
$168,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$975
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$71,563
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cortland's violent crime rate is 148.7 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
148.7 /100k
Property Crime
688.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Cortland, NE
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cortland sees average highs of 34.4°F in January
and 86.5°F in July,
with 31.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.6 inches of snow per year.
Cortland's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cortland roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $168,800 and median rent is $975/month.
Cortland's violent crime rate is 148.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 688.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Cortland, NE has a population of 521, a median household income of $71,563, and an unemployment rate of 1.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Cortland averages 34.4°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.7 inches
with about 28.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cortland, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68331.
The population of Cortland, Nebraska is 521 with a median age of 39.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cortland: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $168,800, median household income $71,563, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cortland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
