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C

Is Cortland, New York Safe?

Population 17,394 · Safer than 30% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Cortland is a smaller community of 17,394 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 226.2 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,333 per 100K.

Cortland Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCortlandNew York AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate258.6320.4363.8
Property Crime Rate2003.52030.01,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate146.0--268.2
Theft Rate1333.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate405.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

226.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

259/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

2004/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Cortland

Violent crime in Cortland is below the national average. The rate of 258.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2003.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,333 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Cortland Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault146
054% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery64
01.0x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary236
087% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,333
095% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft405
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Cortland Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cortland
258.6
State
320.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cortland
2003.5
State
2030.0
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cortland Safety

Is Cortland safe?
Not especially. Cortland earns a C with a crime rate of 226.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Cortland?
226.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 258.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2003.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Cortland safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Cortland's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,333 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Cortland?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Cortland generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Cortland police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Cortland?
No. Crime in Cortland has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Cortland compare to other cities in New York?
Below average for the state. Cortland ranks behind about 68% of New York cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Cortland to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Cortland?
Bad. A C grade and 226.2 per-thousand rate put Cortland below 70% of US cities. Violent crime at 259 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Cortland?
258.6 per 100,000, which is 29% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (146), robbery (64), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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