Cortland, NY — Looking for an affordable place to call home that you’ll actually enjoy living in? Get ready to move to Upstate New York.
Cortland, a small city in Central New York, has been named the most affordable small town in the United States where “you’d actually like to live” by Realtor.com. The Crown City was crowned No. 1 on the real estate website’s ranking, edging out places like Rutland, Vermont and Kearney, Nebraska.
To find the nation’s most affordable, attractive places, Realtor.com said its data team looked at homes for sale in “micropolitan areas” with populations between 10,000 and 50,000. Then, using US Census Bureau data about quality-of-life businesses and home list prices, researchers narrowed down the list to places where the median list price per square foot was less than 150% of the national average.
What makes Cortland such a great place to live? Realtor.com noted two factors: the median list price of the city’s homes and its “big-city appeal”.
The middle price for homes on the market in Cortland is $159,250, Realtor.com said — about a third of the national median in May.
Part of Cortland’s appeal is its proximity to bigger cities like Syracuse and Ithaca, the company said. It’s a short drive from three ski resorts — Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Labrador Mountain and Song Mountain — and great hikes like the Finger Lakes Trail.
Cortland is home to the State University of New York at Cortland. It also hosts a number of vibrant small businesses, including Coffee Mania and Bru 64, beloved local coffee shops; restaurants like Yori House and Pita Gourmet; and the Cortland Beer Company.
“You get a lot for your money here,” Realtor.com said.
View the full list of affordable, attractive communities on Realtor.com.
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