Across the nation, communities are grappling with housing shortages and affordability pressures, and Cortland County is no exception. However, the county’s housing story begins with an engaged community and collaborative leadership providing a strong foundation for developing local housing solutions

Cortland County is a county of connections.

The County’s landscape tells a story of transition across multiple physical regions. The Finger Lakes form the County’s western edge, with the southern tip of Skaneateles Lake reaching into the northwest corner. The Allegheny Plateau extends through the southern portion of the County, while evidence of the last ice age is visible in the north, including the terminal moraine and the Tully Kettle Lakes.

This transitionary geography is echoed in local identity as well: The City of Cortland is known as the “Crown City,” a reference to the seven valleys that converge at the City’s edges.

Much of Cortland County’s population is anchored in and around the City of Cortland, which provides an urban setting for a substantial share of the County’s industry and economic activity. Outside the City, the villages of Homer, McGraw, and Marathon provide smaller historic centers.

Because Cortland County contains multiple “housing markets” within one jurisdiction, it cannot rely on a single approach to expand housing opportunity. Recent years have brought increased housing strain nationally, driven by pandemic-era disruptions, rising construction costs, and limited production of new housing over decades.

Cortland County’s response must meet our communities where they are at. This Housing Needs Assessment establishes the shared baseline needed to set priorities, align resources, and advance strategies that fit each community.