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Buying a home in Chatham, Massachusetts

The typical owner-occupied home in Chatham is worth about $1,866,800, 3.3 times the Massachusetts median of $562,100 and 5.6 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $8,029 a year in property taxes, about 0.43% of their home's value, lower than the Massachusetts rate of 1.07%. The median household earns $83,750 a year, so the median home costs 22.3 times the median income (5.4 times for Massachusetts). 73% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 26% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Chatham at a glance

Chatham Massachusetts U.S.
Median home value $1,866,800 $562,100 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $8,029 $5,992 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.43% 1.07% 0.94%
Median household income $83,750 $103,960 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 73% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 26% 66% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,295 $2,726 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 39.4% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $1,311 $1,762 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.7% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1970 1964 1980
Vacant homes 55.3% 8.1% 10.1%
Population 1,600 7,044,056 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Chatham

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Chatham home of $1,866,800 with 20% down costs about $11,493 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $14,903, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $492,567 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 165% of the median Chatham household income of $83,750; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $317,000.

The median rent here is $1,311 a month, so owning the median home costs about $10,182 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$373,360
Loan amount$1,493,440
Principal and interest$10,046
Property taxes (0.43% a year)$669
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$778
PMI$0
Total per month$11,493

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$65,338
Loan amount$1,832,988
Principal and interest$12,331
Property taxes (0.43% a year)$669
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$778
FHA mortgage insurance$1,126
Total per month$14,903

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Questions about home buying in Chatham

What is the median home value in Chatham?

About $1,866,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Chatham?

Homeowners pay a median $8,029 a year, which is about 0.43% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Chatham?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $11,493 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $492,567 a year.

More about Chatham

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data