The Town FilesCortland, Nebraska
Village in Gage County · population 504 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $183,200
- Household income
- $74,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 38.2
Cortland is a village of 504 people in Gage County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $183,200, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for families than 93% of Nebraska towns, easier by car than 91% of Nebraska towns, more upscale than 81% of Nebraska towns.
How Cortland ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cortland is worth $183,200, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $74,583, which is more affordable than 36% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $1,075 a month. 87.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cortland | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $183,200 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $1,075 | $818 |
| Median household income | $74,583 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 87.4% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cortland
| People | Cortland | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 12.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Cortland
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 31.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cortland since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 22, 2004 about 3.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 41 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 29, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on September 18, 1986.
Severe weather in Gage County since 1996
Gage County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4928: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Gage County
Gage County had 8,677 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Cortland itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Cortland
- Firth, NE5.7 mi · 649 people · home $221,600
- Hickman, NE9.2 mi · 2,607 people · home $311,700
- Adams, NE10.9 mi · 604 people · home $191,500
- De Witt, NE13.7 mi · 530 people · home $136,900
- Wilber, NE13.7 mi · 1,937 people · home $185,700
- Crete, NE15.3 mi · 7,099 people · home $223,500
- Bennet, NE16.1 mi · 1,082 people · home $272,400
- Beatrice, NE16.2 mi · 12,261 people · home $159,300
Cortland questions
Is Cortland, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cortland scores better for retirees than 53% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 56%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Cortland?
The median owner-occupied home in Cortland is valued at $183,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,583, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,075 a month.
What is the weather like in Cortland?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.0 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Cortland get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cortland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 22, 2004. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- 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)