County profile · North Carolina
Chatham County, NC market data
How Chatham County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 85,111
- +11.0% since 2020
- Households
- 33,004
- Median household income
- $94,317
- +40.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $446,200
- Jobs located here
- 20,863
- Highest market score
- 96
- Bakeries and dessert shops, #1 of 1,889 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Chatham County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Chatham County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Chatham County has an estimated 85,111 people and 33,004 households. Population estimates show Chatham County grew 11.0% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Chatham County is $94,317, 17% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 40.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Chatham County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 140, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on medical and dental services (100).
Of the business types scored in Chatham County, bakeries and dessert shops (96), clothing and shoe stores (94) and barbershops (93) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For bakeries and dessert shops, that ranks #1 of 1,889 scored counties.
Chatham County is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (28% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (62% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Chatham County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Chatham County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 96 | #1 of 1,889 | 16 | 4.8 | $9.2M | 223 | 5 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 94 | #8 of 2,087 | 20 | 6.1 | $3.7M | 292 | 6 |
| Barbershops | 93 | #4 of 1,356 | 5 | 1.5 | $6.9M | 367 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 93 | #11 of 2,063 | 24 | 7.3 | $6.2M | 166 | 5 |
| Gyms | 91 | #8 of 1,792 | 17 | 5.2 | $2M | 152 | 5 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 91 | #15 of 2,210 | 35 | 10.6 | $2.1M | 240 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 91 | #45 of 2,272 | 26 | 7.9 | $3.5M | 277 | 21 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 90 | #11 of 2,385 | 78 | 23.6 | $443K | 208 | 13 |
| Spas and skin care | 90 | #12 of 1,769 | 18 | 5.5 | $1.9M | 219 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 90 | #14 of 2,222 | 28 | 8.5 | $5.3M | 173 | 48 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 90 | #25 of 2,405 | 215 | 65.1 | $687K | 185 | 104 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 89 | #13 of 1,327 | 6 | 1.8 | $5.9M | 190 | 5 |
| Hair salons | 89 | #16 of 2,339 | 44 | 13.3 | $786K | 183 | 10 |
| Funeral homes | 89 | #27 of 1,472 | 7 | 2.1 | $861K | 127 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 88 | #7 of 1,328 | 11 | 3.3 | $3.1M | 188 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 88 | #8 of 1,302 | 6 | 1.8 | $7.1M | 227 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 88 | #9 of 1,490 | 8 | 2.4 | $5.3M | 223 | 5 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 87 | #5 of 777 | 5 | 1.5 | $6.7M | 165 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 87 | #49 of 2,405 | 117 | 35.5 | $1.3M | 190 | 49 |
| Roofing and gutters | 86 | #12 of 1,177 | 6 | 1.8 | $18.6M | 220 | 6 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 84 | #49 of 1,656 | 14 | 4.2 | $3M | 171 | 22 |
| Physical therapy | 81 | #49 of 1,422 | 12 | 3.6 | $3.6M | 148 | 8 |
| Pizza | 81 | #76 of 2,090 | 28 | 8.5 | $5.3M | 104 | 48 |
| Convenience stores | 81 | #155 of 2,261 | 30 | 9.1 | $7.3M | 92 | 6 |
| Electricians | 78 | #63 of 1,160 | 8 | 2.4 | $14M | 116 | 21 |
| Home repair trades | 78 | #67 of 2,057 | 31 | 9.4 | $3.6M | 148 | 61 |
| Auto repair and car care | 78 | #164 of 2,401 | 93 | 28.2 | $378K | 141 | 45 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 77 | #90 of 1,707 | 17 | 5.2 | $6.6M | 138 | 34 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 77 | #158 of 2,394 | 138 | 41.8 | $309K | 203 | 57 |
| Gas stations | 77 | #227 of 2,358 | 46 | 13.9 | $2.3M | 97 | 30 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 77 | #253 of 2,402 | 62 | 18.8 | $3.5M | 104 | 21 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 75 | #138 of 2,088 | 38 | 11.5 | $882K | 133 | 17 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 74 | #150 of 1,771 | 26 | 7.9 | $2.2M | 131 | 61 |
| Auto repair shops | 74 | #227 of 2,378 | 54 | 16.4 | $651K | 146 | 36 |
| Pet stores | 73 | #132 of 974 | 9 | 2.7 | $4M | 88 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 73 | #156 of 1,461 | 11 | 3.3 | $3.3M | 128 | 10 |
| Car washes and detailing | 71 | #216 of 1,451 | 14 | 4.2 | $2.5M | 100 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 71 | #248 of 1,886 | 28 | 8.5 | $1.5M | 155 | 22 |
| Tire shops | 70 | #275 of 1,530 | 11 | 3.3 | $3.2M | 128 | 7 |
| Grocery stores | 69 | #444 of 2,070 | 23 | 7.0 | $9.5M | 102 | 15 |
| Child care and preschools | 68 | #309 of 1,611 | 18 | 5.5 | $1.2M | 117 | 27 |
| Property management | 67 | #181 of 910 | 10 | 3.0 | Index only | 102 | 12 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 67 | #305 of 1,493 | 20 | 6.1 | $2.9M | 98 | 46 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 63 | #309 of 1,334 | 16 | 4.8 | $2.1M | 104 | 12 |
| Pet businesses | 63 | #553 of 2,200 | 44 | 13.3 | $816K | 93 | 33 |
| Veterinarians | 62 | #458 of 1,485 | 14 | 4.2 | $2.6M | 94 | 23 |
| Real estate | 59 | #634 of 2,229 | 86 | 26.1 | Index only | 152 | 72 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 57 | #697 of 2,176 | 73 | 22.1 | Index only | 143 | 54 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.2 | $18.5M | 118 | 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | $19M | 298 | 11 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | Index only | 485 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | $19M | 186 | 4 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.6 | $37M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.6 | $17.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Chatham County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $35.1M | $1,064 | 111 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $106.7M | $3,232 | 125 |
| Food away from home | $147.8M | $4,478 | 110 |
| Groceries | $218.5M | $6,620 | 105 |
| Personal care products and services | $34.6M | $1,047 | 104 |
| Child care and other personal services | $21M | $637 | 110 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $33.5M | $1,016 | 103 |
| Medical and dental services | $42.7M | $1,292 | 100 |
| Pets | $35.9M | $1,087 | 120 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $74.1M | $2,245 | 109 |
| Vehicle insurance | $90.4M | $2,739 | 140 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $111.8M | $3,388 | 112 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $57.1M | $1,731 | 122 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $567.3M | $17,188 | 103 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Chatham County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 85,111+11.0% since 2020
- Households
- 33,004
- Median age
- 47.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 81%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 682 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 118
- Median household income
- $94,317+40.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $138,537
- Median home value
- $446,200
- Jobs located here
- 20,863
- Daytime population
- 66,832Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Chatham County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Chatham County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Orange County, NC149,678 people
- Lee County, NC65,816 people
- Durham County, NC332,353 people
- Alamance County, NC176,893 people
- Wake County, NC1,178,653 people
- Harnett County, NC139,150 people
- Randolph County, NC146,348 people
- Moore County, NC104,876 people
Questions
How fast is Chatham County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Chatham County at 85,111 people in 2025, up 11.0% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 33,004 households. Median household income rose 40.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Chatham County, NC spend?
Households in Chatham County spend about $567.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $218.5M on groceries and $147.8M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Chatham County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 140, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on medical and dental services (100).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Chatham County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Chatham County are for bakeries and dessert shops (96), clothing and shoe stores (94) and barbershops (93). Chatham County ranks #1 of 1,889 scored counties for bakeries and dessert shops.
How does Chatham County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Chatham County is $94,317 a year, 17% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 11.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $446,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Chatham County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (28% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (62% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 48 of the 56 business types have a score in Chatham County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Chatham County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Chatham County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Chatham County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.