What are the schools like in Chatham, VA?

Chatham is served primarily by Pittsylvania County Public Schools. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.7:1.

What is the median household income in Chatham?

The median household income in Chatham, VA is $55,865 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Chatham, VA?

Chatham has an average high temperature of 47.3°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 5.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Chatham, VA affordable or expensive?

Chatham's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chatham is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $158,800 and the median rent is $1,008 per month.

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

Chatham has a violent crime rate of 97.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 616.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chatham, VA a Good Place to Live?

Chatham is a small town of 1,637 in Virginia, with a median household income of $55,865 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Chatham stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), 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: 94.3

Chatham's overall cost of living index is 94.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chatham costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chatham, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$158,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,008	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,865	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Chatham's violent crime rate is 97.8 per 100,000 residents — 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

97.8 /100k

Property Crime

616.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Chatham is served primarily by Pittsylvania County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chatham, VA	National Avg
School District	Pittsylvania County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	32.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chatham sees average highs of 47.3°F in January and 86.3°F in July, with 47.7 inches of annual precipitation and 5.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chatham, VA
Average High — January	47.3°F
Average High — July	86.3°F
Annual Precipitation	47.7"
Annual Snowfall	5.8"

Demographics

Metric	Chatham, VA	National Avg
Population	1,637	—
Median Age	36.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	71.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	20.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	24.6%	22.2%
65 and over	23.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Blairs, VA 8 mi Gretna, VA 10 mi Mount Hermon, VA 10 mi Danville, VA 16 mi Motley, VA 18 mi

ZIP Codes in Chatham

Chatham, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

24531

Chatham vs Other Cities

Chatham, VA vs Blairs, VA Chatham, VA vs Gretna, VA Chatham, VA vs Mount Hermon, VA Chatham, VA vs Danville, VA Chatham, VA vs Motley, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chatham, VA affordable or expensive?

Chatham's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chatham roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $158,800 and median rent is $1,008/month.

What is the crime rate in Chatham, VA?

Chatham's violent crime rate is 97.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 616.4 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 Pittsylvania County Public Schools. The district has 10 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 32.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chatham, VA a good place to live?

Chatham, VA has a population of 1,637, a median household income of $55,865, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. 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 47.3°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.7 inches with about 5.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chatham?

Chatham, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24531.

What is the population of Chatham?

The population of Chatham, Virginia is 1,637 with a median age of 36.5. 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 94 (100 = US average), median home $158,800, median household income $55,865, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. 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.