Cortland, IL Demographics

A map of Cortland's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	3,194	3,011	70.0%	68.5%
Hispanic	783	749	17.2%	17.0%
Multiracial	322	204	7.1%	4.6%
Black	233	349	5.1%	7.9%
Asian	32	61	0.7%	1.4%
Native American/Other	0	24	0.0%	0.5%

Cortland, Illinois has an estimated population of 4,564, an increase from the 4,398 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 70.0% White, 17.2% Hispanic, 7.1% Multiracial, 5.1% Black, 0.7% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Cortland, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Cortland has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Illinois overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Cortland, that probability was 49.4% in 2020 and 47.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Cortland is ranked the 348th most populous place in Illinois, out of 1,461 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Cortland was ranked the 362nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Cortland's White Population

3,194 residents of Cortland, or 70.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Cortland is considerably higher than in Illinois overall, where 58.1% of the population is White. Cortland ranks 1247th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cortland's White population has grown by an estimated 6.1%. White residents' share of Cortland's population has increased from 68.5% to 70.0%.

Cortland is more White than neighboring DeKalb (56.4% White). Cortland is less White than neighboring Sycamore (80.8% White), Maple Park (83.6% White), Virgil (84.9% White), and Hinckley (81.8% White).

Cortland's Black Population

233 residents of Cortland, or 5.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Cortland is lower than in Illinois overall, where 13.3% of the population is Black. Cortland ranks 164th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cortland's Black population has declined by an estimated 33.2%. Black residents' share of Cortland's population has decreased from 7.9% to 5.1%.

Cortland is more Black than neighboring Sycamore (3% Black), Maple Park (0.6% Black), Virgil (1.9% Black), and Hinckley (0.9% Black). Cortland is less Black than neighboring DeKalb (13.8% Black).

Cortland's Asian Population

32 residents of Cortland, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Cortland is lower than in Illinois overall, where 5.9% of the population is Asian. Cortland ranks 306th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cortland's Asian population has declined by an estimated 47.5%. Asian residents' share of Cortland's population has decreased from 1.4% to 0.7%.

Cortland is more Asian than neighboring Maple Park (0.1% Asian), and Virgil (0% Asian). Cortland is less Asian than neighboring DeKalb (4% Asian), and Sycamore (1.9% Asian).

Cortland's Hispanic Population

783 residents of Cortland, or 17.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Cortland is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 18.8% of the population is Hispanic. Cortland ranks 139th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cortland's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 4.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Cortland's population has remained roughly unchanged at 17.2%.

Cortland is more Hispanic than neighboring Sycamore (11.3% Hispanic), Maple Park (10.8% Hispanic), Virgil (8% Hispanic), and Hinckley (10.9% Hispanic). Cortland is less Hispanic than neighboring DeKalb (19.9% Hispanic).

Cortland's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Cortland, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Cortland is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Cortland ranks 451st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cortland's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Cortland's population has decreased from 0.5% to 0.0%.

Cortland is less Native American/Other than neighboring DeKalb (0.6% Native American/Other), Virgil (1.3% Native American/Other), and Hinckley (0.6% Native American/Other).

Cortland's Multiracial Population

322 residents of Cortland, or 7.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Cortland is slightly higher than in Illinois overall, where 3.4% of the population is Multiracial. Cortland ranks 332nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cortland's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 57.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Cortland's population has increased from 4.6% to 7.1%.

Cortland is more Multiracial than neighboring DeKalb (5.3% Multiracial), Sycamore (2.9% Multiracial), Maple Park (4.9% Multiracial), Virgil (3.8% Multiracial), and Hinckley (5.1% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.