Overview

Introduction to Chatham, Massachusetts

Chatham, Massachusetts, in Barnstable county, is 41 miles SE of Plymouth, Massachusetts and 73 miles SE of Boston, Massachusetts. The town benefits from easy access to the nearby cities and towns that it shares the Barnstable-Yarmouth metropolitan area.

Chatham History

Native Americans lived in the area now known as Chatham for at least 10,000 years before the French unsuccessfully tried to capture it in 1606. In 1656, the English purchased stretches of land in the area from the Native Americans. It was named Monomoit, but since it had no resident minister and an insufficient population to support to a church, it could not be incorporated officially. After the population grew, Hugh Adams was appointed resident minister in 1711. The town soon petitioned to be incorporated for a second time, and it was accepted provided the town change its name to Chatham, which sounded more English than Monomoit. It was incorporated on June 11, 1712.

Chatham and nearby Attractions

  • Cape Cod Discovery Museum
  • Josiah Dennis House
  • Nickerson State Park
  • Cape Cod National Seashore
  • Chatham Seaside Links
  • Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

Things To Do In Chatham

Nearby museums include the Old Atwood House Museum, the Chatham Railroad Museum and the Cape Cod Discovery Museum. Harding Beach and Beachcomber Beach are accessible from Chatham as well. The Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge is a popular local spot.

Chatham Transportation

Air transportation is available from Logan International Airport.

Chatham Higher Education

Nearby colleges and universities include the University of Massachusetts, Bridgewater State College, Massasoit Community College and Quincy College. In addition to these, many online colleges offer degree programs to students in Chatham and the surrounding areas.

Demographics

People

Total Population1,480
Male Share of the Population46.7%
Female Share of the Population53.3%
Senior Citizens48.2%
Employed Population 16+595
Age of the Population64

Families

% of people married53.9%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher58.3%
Median Earnings25+$31,310
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$0
Median Earnings With High School Degree$30,750

Wealth

Median Family Income$99,844
% Above Poverty Level88.6%
% Below Poverty Level11.4%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time20 minutes
% Working from Home5.4%
% Walking and Biking to Work5%
% Using Public Transportation1.7%

Housing

People Living Alone43.1%
Median Gross Rent$585
Median House Value$797,400

Ancestry

English24.5%
Irish18.6%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)13.6%
Italian8.3%
Swedish3.9%
West Indian3.8%
Jamaican3.8%
Scottish3.6%
Polish3%
Lithuanian2.6%
French Except Basque2.6%
Dutch1.6%
Danishn1.5%
Bulgarian1.2%
Russian1%
Ukrainian0.7%
Welsh0.7%
Swiss0.7%
Czech0.6%
German0.6%
Austrian0.5%
Belgian0.5%
Norwegian0.5%
Greek0.4%
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Chatham Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyBarnstable County
Standard Zip Codes02633
Phone Area Codes5,08,774
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude41.67
Approximate Longitude-69.96

Chatham Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationCHATHAM MUNICIPAL AP
Distance1.1 miles
Jan Temp24 to 38 F
Apr Temp39 to 50 F
Jul Temp62 to 75 F
Oct Temp47 to 60 F
Annual Precip46.7 inches
StationPROVINCETOWN
Distance27.9 miles
Jan Temp23 to 37 F
Apr Temp37 to 52 F
Jul Temp63 to 79 F
Oct Temp45 to 60 F
Annual Precip41.9 inches
StationNANTUCKET AP
Distance30.4 miles
Jan Temp25 to 39 F
Apr Temp38 to 51 F
Jul Temp62 to 75 F
Oct Temp47 to 61 F
Annual Precip37.4 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Brewster1,757$77,540
Dennis2,360$92,069
Orleans1,867$86,250

Chatham Public Libraries

Eldredge Public Library
564 MAIN ST.
Chatham, Massachusetts
(508) 945-5170

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More Information for Librarians

Chatham Public Schools

Chatham Elementary School
147 Depot Road
ZIP: 2633
(508) 945-5135
Primary
Total Enrollment 277
Chatham High School
425 Crowell Road
ZIP: 2633
(508) 945-5140
Chatham Middle School
425 Crowell Road
ZIP: 2633
(508) 945-5148
Monomoy Regional Middle School
425 Crowell Road
ZIP: 2633
(508) 945-5140
Middle
Total Enrollment 432
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