What are the schools like in Chatham, IL?

Chatham is served primarily by Ball Chatham CUSD 5. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.3:1.

What is the median household income in Chatham?

The median household income in Chatham, IL is $104,000 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

What is the weather like in Chatham, IL?

Chatham has an average high temperature of 35.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.8 inches.

Chatham, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Chatham, IL affordable or expensive?

Chatham's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chatham is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $220,000 and the median rent is $1,133 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Chatham, IL?

Chatham has a violent crime rate of 103.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 494.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chatham, IL a Good Place to Live?

Chatham is a small city of 14,437 in Illinois, with a median household income of $104,000 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Chatham stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Chatham is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Chatham city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.5

Chatham's overall cost of living index is 90.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chatham costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chatham, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$220,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,133	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	79.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$104,000	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Chatham's violent crime rate is 103.0 per 100,000 residents — 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

103.0 /100k

Property Crime

494.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Chatham is served primarily by Ball Chatham CUSD 5. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chatham, IL	National Avg
School District	Ball Chatham CUSD 5	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	47.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chatham sees average highs of 35.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 41.2 inches of annual precipitation and 21.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chatham, IL
Average High — January	35.8°F
Average High — July	85.5°F
Annual Precipitation	41.2"
Annual Snowfall	21.8"

Demographics

Metric	Chatham, IL	National Avg
Population	14,437	—
Median Age	34.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.5%	6.3%
Under 18	30.6%	22.2%
65 and over	10.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Southern View, IL 6 mi Jerome, IL 6 mi Curran, IL 6 mi Leland Grove, IL 7 mi Auburn, IL 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Chatham

Chatham, IL is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

62629 62536

Chatham vs Other Cities

Chatham, IL vs Southern View, IL Chatham, IL vs Jerome, IL Chatham, IL vs Curran, IL Chatham, IL vs Leland Grove, IL Chatham, IL vs Auburn, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chatham, IL affordable or expensive?

Chatham's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chatham roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $220,000 and median rent is $1,133/month.

What is the crime rate in Chatham, IL?

Chatham's violent crime rate is 103.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 494.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chatham?

Public schools in Chatham are operated by Ball Chatham CUSD 5. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1. 47.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chatham, IL a good place to live?

Chatham, IL has a population of 14,437, a median household income of $104,000, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Chatham?

Chatham averages 35.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.2 inches with about 21.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chatham?

Chatham, IL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 62629, 62536.

What is the population of Chatham?

The population of Chatham, Illinois is 14,437 with a median age of 34.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chatham?

Key numbers for living in Chatham: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $220,000, median household income $104,000, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chatham side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.