The Town FilesCortland, Illinois
Town in DeKalb County · population 4,398 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,200
- Household income
- $73,971
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 31.5
Cortland is a town of 4,398 people in DeKalb County, Illinois. The median home is worth $233,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 89% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Illinois towns.
How Cortland ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cortland is worth $233,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $73,971, which is more affordable than 17% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,552 a month. 78.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cortland | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,552 | $960 |
| Median household income | $73,971 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cortland
| People | Cortland | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Cortland
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cortland since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 18, 1975 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 12, 1998.
Severe weather in DeKalb County since 1996
DeKalb County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in DeKalb County
DeKalb County had 36,272 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,896 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Cortland itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Cortland
1 public school with 505 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cortland Elementary School | K-5 | 505 | 12.6 |
Towns near Cortland
- DeKalb, IL3.1 mi · 40,290 people · home $204,700
- Sycamore, IL4.2 mi · 18,577 people · home $265,700
- Genoa, IL10.6 mi · 5,298 people · home $225,200
- Elburn, IL12.3 mi · 6,175 people · home $389,300
- Campton Hills, IL14.0 mi · 10,885 people · home $547,500
- Hampshire, IL15.6 mi · 7,667 people · home $329,800
- Sugar Grove, IL16.7 mi · 9,278 people · home $401,900
- Pingree Grove, IL16.7 mi · 10,365 people · home $320,800
Cortland questions
Is Cortland, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cortland scores better for retirees than 30% of Illinois towns and quieter than 43%. 7.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.5).
How much does a house cost in Cortland?
The median owner-occupied home in Cortland is valued at $233,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,971, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,552 a month.
What is the weather like in Cortland?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 33.1 inches of snow.
Does Cortland get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cortland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 18, 1975. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)