The Town FilesChatham, New York
Village in Columbia County · population 1,529 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $323,100
- Household income
- $79,886
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 49.6
Chatham is a village of 1,529 people in Columbia County, New York. The median home is worth $323,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of New York towns, quieter than 83% of New York towns, better for cycling than 80% of New York towns.
How Chatham ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chatham is worth $323,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $79,886, which is more affordable than 25% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,080 a month. 54.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chatham | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $323,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,080 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $79,886 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Chatham
| People | Chatham | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 12.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.2% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Chatham
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chatham since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 28, 1973 about 9.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 17, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 21, 2013.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 20,888 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,241 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Chatham itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Chatham
3 public schools with 895 students, about 8.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY E DARDESS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 381 | 10.0 |
| CHATHAM HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 309 | 9.1 |
| CHATHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 205 | 6.6 |
Towns near Chatham
- Ghent, NY2.9 mi · 623 people · home $318,500
- Ghent, NY4.2 mi · 5,303 people · home $371,200
- Chatham, NY4.5 mi · 4,104 people · home $358,100
- Austerlitz, NY5.2 mi · 1,625 people · home $467,600
- Valatie, NY5.4 mi · 1,785 people · home $325,100
- Kinderhook, NY5.5 mi · 8,330 people · home $349,900
- Kinderhook, NY5.9 mi · 1,170 people · home $372,400
- Niverville, NY6.6 mi · 1,508 people · home $302,200
Chatham questions
Is Chatham, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chatham scores better for retirees than 92% of New York towns and quieter than 83%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Chatham?
The median owner-occupied home in Chatham is valued at $323,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,886, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,080 a month.
What is the weather like in Chatham?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 42.2 inches of snow.
Does Chatham get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chatham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 28, 1973. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)