North Carolina · GEOID 37037

Chatham County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 80,151 · 35,914 housing units

Median household income

$94,317

State $74,272

Median home value

$446,200

State $299,282

Median gross rent

$1,180

State $1,245

Homeownership rate

80.6%

State 66.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

48.0%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

19.1%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.7%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

8.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

8.1%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.73

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Chatham County	North Carolina
Population	80,151	10,730,404
Population density (per sq. mi.)	117.61	—
Median household income	$94,317	$74,272
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$129,900	—
Households	33,004	—
Average household size	2.41 people	—
Owner-occupied	80.6%	66.6%
Renter-occupied	19.4%	33.4%
Race	71.1% White · 10.2% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Chatham County compared with North Carolina.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

48.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.7%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	20.3%	$84,350	$2,109	$282,960
1 earner	29.3%	$82,726	$2,068	$276,915
2 earners	41.3%	$150,151	$3,754	$527,893
3+ earners	9.0%	$171,029	$4,276	$605,608

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

33,004

Average size: 2.41 people

Households with children

7,964

24.1% of households

Per-capita income

$59,363

Poverty rate: 9.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

80.6% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 81.4% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 4.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

22.8% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,998.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $446,200.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,180.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 2,910 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 6.3% · For rent 19.7% · Seasonal 4.7% · Other 57.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

38.0% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 62.0% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.4%

137 units of 35,914 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.6%

1,668 units of 35,914 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$75,454

100% MHI$94,317

120% MHI$113,180

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Chatham County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$71,200	$81,400	$101,700
100% AMI	$90,930	$103,920	$129,900
120% AMI	$109,100	$124,700	$155,900

HUD FMR Area: Durham-Chapel Hill, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

48.0% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (25.3% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

19.1% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Chatham County.

Covered employment

17,968

Across 19 sectors

Establishments

2,147

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$50,959

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	2,873	$46,504	$142,084	−$304,116	$1,163
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	1,941	$23,218	$55,406	−$390,794	$580
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	1,882	$60,477	$194,096	−$252,104	$1,512
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	1,861	$32,807	$91,099	−$355,101	$820
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	1,676	$54,763	$172,827	−$273,373	$1,369
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	1,660	$57,958	$184,720	−$261,480	$1,449
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	1,271	$54,872	$173,233	−$272,967	$1,372
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	1,177	$51,245	$159,732	−$286,468	$1,281
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	1,043	$86,297	$290,207	−$155,993	$2,157
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	800	$45,438	$138,116	−$308,084	$1,136
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	496	$75,245	$249,068	−$197,132	$1,881
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	492	$47,841	$147,061	−$299,139	$1,196
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	291	$80,820	$269,820	−$176,380	$2,021
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	224	$55,918	$177,126	−$269,074	$1,398
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	133	$26,254	$66,707	−$379,493	$656
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	82	$135,962	$475,077	+$28,877	$3,399
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	36	$113,154	$390,178	−$56,022	$2,829
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	26	$67,978	$222,018	−$224,182	$1,699
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	4	$74,769	$247,296	−$198,904	$1,869

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	1,835	$22,433	$52,484	−$393,716	$561
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	1,676	$54,763	$172,827	−$273,373	$1,369
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,464	$59,275	$189,622	−$256,578	$1,482
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	1,149	$44,441	$134,405	−$311,795	$1,111
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	1,108	$50,411	$156,627	−$289,573	$1,260
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	1,043	$86,297	$290,207	−$155,993	$2,157
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	955	$54,328	$171,208	−$274,992	$1,358
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	806	$56,893	$180,756	−$265,444	$1,422
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	533	$59,042	$188,755	−$257,445	$1,476
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	482	$31,715	$87,034	−$359,166	$793
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	410	$26,078	$66,052	−$380,148	$652
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	376	$29,579	$79,084	−$367,116	$739
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	375	$55,545	$175,738	−$270,462	$1,389
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	335	$64,103	$207,594	−$238,606	$1,603
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	291	$49,076	$151,658	−$294,542	$1,227
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	286	$53,168	$166,890	−$279,310	$1,329
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	235	$55,359	$175,045	−$271,155	$1,384
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	230	$70,115	$229,972	−$216,228	$1,753
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	204	$29,880	$80,204	−$365,996	$747
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	195	$43,920	$132,466	−$313,734	$1,098
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	163	$33,932	$95,287	−$350,913	$848
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	154	$39,304	$115,283	−$330,917	$983
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	151	$61,226	$196,884	−$249,316	$1,531
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	140	$62,568	$201,880	−$244,320	$1,564
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	138	$76,461	$253,594	−$192,606	$1,912
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	134	$52,990	$166,227	−$279,973	$1,325
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	126	$98,694	$336,353	−$109,847	$2,467
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	121	$20,574	$45,564	−$400,636	$514
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	116	$64,787	$210,140	−$236,060	$1,620
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	106	$36,822	$106,044	−$340,156	$921
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	102	$38,512	$112,335	−$333,865	$963
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	94	$65,787	$213,862	−$232,338	$1,645
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	90	$37,984	$110,370	−$335,830	$950
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	89	$92,922	$314,868	−$131,332	$2,323
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	88	$26,423	$67,336	−$378,864	$661
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	82	$67,876	$221,638	−$224,562	$1,697
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	79	$37,545	$108,736	−$337,464	$939
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	70	$64,325	$208,420	−$237,780	$1,608
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	68	$65,581	$213,095	−$233,105	$1,640
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	66	$63,150	$204,046	−$242,154	$1,579
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	51	$16,504	$30,414	−$415,786	$413
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	45	$88,012	$296,591	−$149,609	$2,200
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	44	$123,054	$427,029	−$19,171	$3,076
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	41	$37,627	$109,041	−$337,159	$941
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	39	$27,266	$70,474	−$375,726	$682
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	36	$113,154	$390,178	−$56,022	$2,829
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	26	$43,093	$129,387	−$316,813	$1,077
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	26	$151,535	$533,045	+$86,845	$3,788
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	26	$67,978	$222,018	−$224,182	$1,699
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	25	$43,543	$131,062	−$315,138	$1,089
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	22	$36,216	$103,789	−$342,411	$905
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	11	$91,117	$308,149	−$138,051	$2,278
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	6	$197,104	$702,668	+$256,468	$4,928
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	4	$47,398	$145,412	−$300,788	$1,185
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	4	$53,972	$169,883	−$276,317	$1,349
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	4	$74,769	$247,296	−$198,904	$1,869
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	1	$105,216	$360,630	−$85,570	$2,630

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	5,350	(3,030)	(36%)	$14.56	$30,280	$81,693	$757
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	4,840	(930)	(16%)	$15.09	$31,390	$85,825	$785
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	800	(560)	(41%)	$15.81	$32,870	$91,334	$822
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	5,850	(1,520)	(21%)	$16.52	$34,360	$96,880	$859
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	3,150	270	9%	$17.59	$36,580	$105,144	$915
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	3,560	(1,330)	(27%)	$18.29	$38,040	$110,578	$951
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	1,220	560	85%	$20.42	$42,480	$127,105	$1,062
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	4,830	(2,550)	(35%)	$20.45	$42,540	$127,329	$1,064
Tellers SOC 43-3071	260	(350)	(57%)	$21.29	$44,290	$133,843	$1,107
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	4,180	(400)	(9%)	$21.87	$45,480	$138,272	$1,137
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,120	740	195%	$22.81	$47,450	$145,605	$1,186
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	520	(240)	(32%)	$25.31	$52,650	$164,962	$1,316
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	2,430	490	25%	—	$53,630	$168,610	$1,341
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,830	660	30%	$25.94	$53,950	$169,801	$1,349
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	2,130	890	72%	$27.02	$56,200	$178,176	$1,405
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	620	210	51%	$28.19	$58,630	$187,221	$1,466
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,160	420	57%	$28.69	$59,670	$191,092	$1,492
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,040	30	3%	$30.22	$62,870	$203,004	$1,572
Paramedics SOC 29-2043	230	—	—	$30.91	$64,290	$208,290	$1,607

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 37037 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.