Chatham County is home to 80,151 people in North Carolina. The median age is 47.6, about 9 years above the US median. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 30,822 people. Few US counties rank higher on income. 81% of homes are owner-occupied. This is an unusually credentialed place: 49% of adults have a four-year degree.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $94,317, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
49% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 116%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Chatham County
What changed most since 1990
Median home value (2024 dollars)$151,444 → $446,200(+195%)US over the same years: +67%
Population38,759 → 80,151(+107%)US over the same years: +35%
Adults with a bachelor's degree19.5% → 48.9%(+29.4 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)11.1%(515)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24.1%(1,117)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era43.8%(2,029)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War11.8%(549)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.6%(26)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 4,637 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Chatham County, decade by decade
Chatham County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
38,759
$68,496
$151,444
19.5%
47.5
2000
49,329
$78,060
$206,394
27.6%
56.1
2010
63,505
$80,615
$278,939
35.1%
57.5
2020
76,285
$84,599
$375,732
43.7%
60.7
2024
80,151
$94,317
$446,200
48.9%
60.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Chatham County, North Carolina?
Chatham County, North Carolina has about 80,151 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Chatham County, North Carolina?
The typical household in Chatham County, North Carolina earns about $94,317 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Chatham County, North Carolina expensive?
In Chatham County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $446,200, and the typical rent is about $1,180 a month.
How educated are people in Chatham County, North Carolina?
About 48.9% of adults age 25 and over in Chatham County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Chatham County, North Carolina?
About 11.0% of people in Chatham County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Chatham County, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Chatham County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 41,392 residents, a change of about 107 percent over that period.
