Chatham County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Name: Chatham County, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Chatham County, North Carolina has a population of 80,151, the 35th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $94,317 and the median home value is $446,200. The poverty rate is 11.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Chatham County Quick Facts

Population 80,151

Median Household Income $94,317

Median Home Value $446,200

Poverty Rate 11.1%

Unemployment Rate 2.9%

Median Age 47.6 years

Homeownership Rate 80.6%

Affordability Ratio 4.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 48.9%

High School Graduation 90.9%

Cities/Places 11

Population 80,151 35th of 100

Median Income $94,317 30% higher than state

Poverty Rate 11.1%

Unemployment 2.9%

How Chatham County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	78,319	80,151	+2.3%
Median household income	$88,534	$94,317	+6.5%
Median home value	$397,800	$446,200	+12.2%

Median Household Income

Chatham

$94,317

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Chatham

$446,200

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.5%

$25K-$50K 14.1%

$50K-$100K 26.0%

$100K+ 47.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.5%

$10K-$15K

4.0%

$15K-$20K

2.8%

$20K-$25K

3.3%

$25K-$30K

2.8%

$30K-$35K

3.7%

$35K-$40K

3.3%

$40K-$45K

2.2%

$45K-$50K

2.2%

$50K-$60K

5.7%

$60K-$75K

10.0%

$75K-$100K

10.3%

$100K-$125K

8.2%

$125K-$150K

7.7%

$150K-$200K

10.8%

$200K+

20.7%

Employment

2.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

58.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 80.6%

Renter 19.4%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,180/mo 15.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.4%

18-34

15.7%

35-54

24.8%

55-74

29.0%

75+

11.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Chatham County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Siler City	7,995	$46,566	33.9%	$154,600
Briar Chapel	6,049	$166,063	0.6%	$570,300
Pittsboro	4,752	$81,639	11.7%	$376,300
Fearrington Village	2,356	$86,116	5.5%	$472,600
Governors Village	2,295	$125,857	14.9%	$602,100
Governors Club	1,787	$235,625	0.0%	$889,500
Moncure	1,039	$54,076	1.1%	N/A
Carolina Meadows	555	$126,007	1.8%	$443,800
Goldston	379	$39,538	5.5%	$190,700
Bennett	262	N/A	0.0%	$149,700
Gulf	178	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Chatham County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 80,151. It is the 35th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 11 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. 11.2% 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 $94,317. This is 30% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 17% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $446,200. Housing costs are 54% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.7x. 80.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chatham County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.6%. The Black or African American population (10.0%) is well below the state average of 20.0%.

Education

48.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Chatham County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.9%. Notably, 23.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Chatham County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Chatham County, North Carolina?

Chatham County has a population of 80,151, making it the 35th most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Chatham County?

The median household income in Chatham County is $94,317 with a poverty rate of 11.1%.

How many cities are in Chatham County, North Carolina?

Chatham County contains 11 Census-designated places.