What are the schools like in Chatham, MI?

School district data for Chatham is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Chatham?

The median household income in Chatham, MI is $45,938 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.8%.

What is the weather like in Chatham, MI?

Chatham has an average high temperature of 24.5°F in January and 77.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 164.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Chatham, MI affordable or expensive?

Chatham's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chatham is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $186,600 and the median rent is $656 per month.

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

Chatham has a violent crime rate of 11.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 208.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chatham, MI a Good Place to Live?

Chatham is a small town of 116 in Michigan, with a median household income of $45,938 and a 11.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Chatham stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 92.6

Chatham's overall cost of living index is 92.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chatham costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chatham, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$186,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$656	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$45,938	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Chatham's violent crime rate is 11.0 per 100,000 residents — 97% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

11.0 /100k

Property Crime

208.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Chatham, MI	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chatham sees average highs of 24.5°F in January and 77.9°F in July, with 35.1 inches of annual precipitation and 164.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chatham, MI
Average High — January	24.5°F
Average High — July	77.9°F
Annual Precipitation	35.1"
Annual Snowfall	164.0"

Demographics

Metric	Chatham, MI	National Avg
Population	116	—
Median Age	57.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	11.2%	22.2%
65 and over	29.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Munising, MI 16 mi K. I. Sawyer, MI 21 mi Rock, MI 22 mi Harvey, MI 22 mi Gwinn, MI 25 mi

ZIP Codes in Chatham

Chatham, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49816

Chatham vs Other Cities

Chatham, MI vs Munising, MI Chatham, MI vs K. I. Sawyer, MI Chatham, MI vs Rock, MI Chatham, MI vs Harvey, MI Chatham, MI vs Gwinn, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chatham, MI affordable or expensive?

Chatham's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chatham roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $186,600 and median rent is $656/month.

What is the crime rate in Chatham, MI?

Chatham's violent crime rate is 11.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 208.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chatham?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Chatham, MI a good place to live?

Chatham, MI has a population of 116, a median household income of $45,938, and an unemployment rate of 11.8%. 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 24.5°F in January and 77.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.1 inches with about 164.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chatham?

Chatham, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49816.

What is the population of Chatham?

The population of Chatham, Michigan is 116 with a median age of 57.5. 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 93 (100 = US average), median home $186,600, median household income $45,938, crime index 6 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.