Chatham County, North Carolina Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 36th-largest in North Carolina

The population of Chatham County, North Carolina is 78,319 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 36th-largest county in North Carolina. The median household income is $88,534, the median home value is $397,800, and the median age is 47.6.

The population of Chatham County has grown 31.4% since 2010 (63,845 → 83,874), a +1.97% annualized rate.

Chatham County within North Carolina · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

78,319

Population

+1.97%

Annual growth

115

People / sq mi

$88,534

Median Income

$397,800

Median Home Value

Chatham County covers 681 sq mi of land at 114.9 people per square mile.

About Chatham County, NC

Chatham County is a county in North Carolina with a population of 78,319. It ranks #36 among counties in North Carolina by population. The median age is 47.6, older than the national median. The population is 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

The median household income in Chatham County is $88,534, above the US median of $74,580. 8.8% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $397,800, with monthly rent averaging $1,066. The homeownership rate of 80.4% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Chatham County reflects 48.0% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 20.1% of workers primarily work from home, noticeably above the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 27.1 minutes each way.

Chatham County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Chatham County had a population of 63,845 in 2010 and 83,874 in 2024, a 31.4% growth over 14 years. The peak was 83,874 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.97%.

83,874

Population (2024)

63,845

Population (2010)

83,874

Peak (2024)

1.97%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	63,845	-	-	estimate
2011	64,120	+275	+0.43%	estimate
2012	64,551	+431	+0.67%	estimate
2013	65,276	+725	+1.12%	estimate
2014	66,708	+1,432	+2.19%	estimate
2015	68,307	+1,599	+2.40%	estimate
2016	69,680	+1,373	+2.01%	estimate
2017	71,248	+1,568	+2.25%	estimate
2018	73,171	+1,923	+2.70%	estimate
2019	74,419	+1,248	+1.71%	estimate
2020	76,662	+2,243	+3.01%	estimate
2021	78,147	+1,485	+1.94%	estimate
2022	80,080	+1,933	+2.47%	estimate
2023	81,992	+1,912	+2.39%	estimate
2024	83,874	+1,882	+2.30%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	72.5%
Black or African American	10.5%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	0.9%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

47.6

Median Age

51.6%

Female

48.4%

Male

25.0%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

4.6%

5–9

5.3%

10–14

6.0%

15–19

5.9%

20–24

4.7%

25–34

9.1%

35–44

11.3%

45–54

13.3%

55–59

6.9%

60–64

8.1%

65–74

14.2%

75–84

8.0%

85+

2.8%

Children (under 15): 15.9% · Seniors (65+): 25.0%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$88,534+$18,630 vs state
Mean household income	$131,980
Per-capita income	$56,724
Poverty rate	8.8%-0.6% vs state
Unemployment rate	1.7%
Employment-to-population	56.0%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

26.1%

Finance & real estate

17.7%

Manufacturing

12.6%

Construction

7.3%

Education & health care

6.3%

Information

5.9%

Arts, entertainment & food

5.1%

Retail trade

2.6%

The largest employment sector in Chatham County is professional & business services, accounting for 26.1% of workers.

How residents commute

0.3%

Drive alone

1.6%

Carpool

71.2%

Public transit

20.1%

Work from home

27.1 min

Avg commute

Housing

$397,800+$138,400 vs state

Median home value

$1,066

Median rent

80.4%

Homeownership rate

35,013

Total housing units

92.1%

Occupied

7.9%

Vacant

19.6%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

91.4%

With health insurance

95.0%

With broadband internet

40.1%

Foreign-born

7.0%

Veterans (18+)

11.8%

With a disability

85.1%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

90.4%

High School+

48.0%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in North Carolina

Charlotte (886,283)Raleigh (470,763)Greensboro (298,564)Durham (288,465)Winston-Salem (250,887)Fayetteville (209,692)Cary (176,686)Wilmington (118,578)High Point (115,263)Concord (106,518)All North Carolina cities →

Other counties in North Carolina

Wake County (1,151,009)Mecklenburg County (1,130,906)Guilford County (542,987)Forsyth County (386,740)Cumberland County (336,749)Durham County (329,405)Buncombe County (271,790)Union County (244,975)Gaston County (231,485)Cabarrus County (231,262)All North Carolina counties →

Part of North Carolina

North Carolina demographic profile All North Carolina data →

Metro areas in North Carolina

Charlotte (2,712,818)Virginia Beach (1,782,590)Raleigh (1,449,594)Greensboro (779,894)Winston (683,637)Durham (594,291)Wilmington (440,578)Asheville (410,817)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Chatham County, North Carolina has a population of 78,319 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 36th-largest county in North Carolina. Population density is 115 people per square mile.

The population of Chatham County has grown 31.4% since 2010 (63,845 → 83,874), a +1.97% annualized rate.

The median household income in Chatham County, North Carolina is $88,534, with mean (average) household income of $131,980 and per-capita income of $56,724. 8.8% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Chatham County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (72.5%), Black or African American (10.5%), Hispanic or Latino (0.9%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Chatham County, North Carolina is 47.6 years. Residents are 51.6% female and 48.4% male.

The median home value in Chatham County is $397,800 and median monthly rent is $1,066. 80.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 35,013 total housing units, 7.9% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Chatham County, North Carolina is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 26.1% of workers. The unemployment rate is 1.7%.

Charlotte is among the largest cities associated with Chatham County, North Carolina, with a population of 886,283.