The Town FilesCortland West, New York
Community in Cortland County · population 1,286 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $275,500
- Household income
- $127,019
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 33.8
Cortland West is a community of 1,286 people in Cortland County, New York. The median home is worth $275,500, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 84% of New York towns, more upscale than 74% of New York towns.
How Cortland West ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cortland West is worth $275,500, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $127,019, which is more affordable than 76% of New York towns. 90.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cortland West | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $275,500 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $127,019 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cortland West
| People | Cortland West | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Cortland West
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cortland West since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 7, 2023 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Cortland County since 1996
Cortland County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 29, 2024 | Flood | DR-4814: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cortland County
Cortland County had 16,911 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,778 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Cortland West itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Cortland West
- Munsons Corners, NY1.9 mi · 2,814 people · home $135,700
- Cortland, NY2.4 mi · 17,556 people · home $152,600
- Homer, NY3.6 mi · 3,210 people · home $165,200
- Homer, NY5.5 mi · 6,293 people · home $172,900
- Cortlandville, NY5.5 mi · 8,409 people · home $177,200
- Virgil, NY6.0 mi · 2,425 people · home $244,600
- Summerhill, NY6.3 mi · 1,108 people · home $173,800
- McGraw, NY6.5 mi · 972 people · home $109,600
Cortland West questions
Is Cortland West, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cortland West scores better for retirees than 20% of New York towns and quieter than 17%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.8).
How much does a house cost in Cortland West?
The median owner-occupied home in Cortland West is valued at $275,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $127,019, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Cortland West?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 64.4 inches of snow.
Does Cortland West get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cortland West since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 7, 2023. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)