Chatham County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Chatham County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 78,319. It is the 36th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chatham County is 47.6 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 10.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chatham County is $88,534. This is 27% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.5%. This is 21% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $397,800. Housing costs are 53% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.5x. 80.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chatham County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.4%.

Education

48.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Chatham County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 38% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.4%. Notably, 22.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.