Town · Massachusetts
Chatham, Massachusetts
Chatham, town, in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Chatham had 6,752 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,594 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,681 (±19). GEOID 2500112995.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,752
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,594 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,681 ±19
Median household income
$85,167
±$8,892 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$942,800
±$77,505 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,485
±$209 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Chatham and what county is it in?
Chatham is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It covers 16.2 square miles of land, 408 residents per square mile in 2020.
2 places lie inside Chatham: West Chatham (CDP, 1,619 in 2020) and Chatham (CDP, 1,551 in 2020).
Chatham is in the Barnstable Town, MA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Chatham, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,752 people lived in Chatham on July 1, 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 6,594 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,681 (±19).
| Measure | Chatham | Barnstable County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,681±19 | 231,668 | +662 |
| Households | 3,340±160 | 105,777 | +446 |
| Average household size | 1.95±0.09 | 2.16 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,377±251 | 166,215 | no clear change |
Chatham's population since 2000
From 6,625 in 2000 to 6,752 in 2025: up 1.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Chatham as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Chatham?
The median resident of Chatham is 63.4 years old; 8.9% are under 18 and 45.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.2%. 6.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Chatham | Barnstable County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.4±2.8 | 55.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 8.9%±2.9 pts | 14.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 45.5%±5.1 pts | 33.1% | – |
| Male | 46.2%±2.9 pts | 48.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.9%±0.9 pts | 3.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 89.5%±5.6 pts | 85.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.4%±4.0 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.9%±2.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.2%±2.4 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.7%±4.0 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.5%±1.4 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.1%±2.5 pts | 7.1% | – |
| With a disability | 14.5%±3.0 pts | 14.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.1%±1.1 pts | 2.7% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 99.0%±0.7 pts | 96.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 60.7%±5.2 pts | 48.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 28.8%±3.9 pts | 22.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.8%±3.8 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.8%±2.5 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Chatham earn?
Half of Chatham's 3,340 households earn less than $85,167 a year (±$8,892), against $95,241 in Barnstable County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $103,180 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Chatham | Barnstable County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $85,167±$8,892 | $95,241 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $183,605±$32,675 | $134,349 | – |
| Per capita income | $89,747±$15,334 | $62,086 | +$21,085 |
| People below the poverty line | 10.8%±4.1 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.5%±13.7 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.9%±3.4 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.8%±2.3 pts | 96.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.5%±4.5 pts | 94.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Chatham?
Owners occupy 85.4% of Chatham's occupied homes and renters 14.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $942,800 by its owner (±$77,505). The median renter pays $1,485 a month including utilities, and 47.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Chatham | Barnstable County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $942,800±$77,505 | $629,000 | +$157,863 |
| Median gross rent | $1,485±$209 | $1,678 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.5%±20.0 pts | 48.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,901±$194 | $2,432 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 85.4%±4.1 pts | 81.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 14.6%±4.1 pts | 18.9% | – |
| Housing units | 7,377±251 | 166,215 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.4%±3.8 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 88.8%±2.7 pts | 81.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4%±0.6 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.7%±3.1 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.8%±3.0 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.7%±2.4 pts | 5.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Chatham building?
Builders took permits for 31 new housing units in Chatham in 2025 (31 in single-family houses), 4.6 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Chatham work and get to work?
68.9% of Chatham's workers drive alone and 25.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.9%.
| Measure | Chatham | Barnstable County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 45.4%±5.0 pts | 58.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9%±2.1 pts | 5.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 68.9%±8.2 pts | 72.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 0.8%±1.3 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.3%±3.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.0%±0.9 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 25.5%±7.1 pts | 16.0% | +14.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.9 min±3.7 | 24.8 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Chatham?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Chatham (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $79,089 (Tract 106) to $116,635 (Tract 107).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Chatham) · Census block assignment files
How does Chatham compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Chatham is the 1,776th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 142nd-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Chatham ranks 349th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 142nd | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 114th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 335th | 461 |
| Median household income | 349th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 45th | 460 |
| Median home value | 37th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 230th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 67th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 110th | 459 |
| Median age | 10th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 139th | 460 |
| Work from home | 99th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 375th | 459 |
Chatham's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Chatham with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Chatham?
15 of the 57 figures for Chatham on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Chatham are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.