Williams
RANK #982 / 996 NAT · #50 / 51 NC · POP 76,754
1YR FORECAST: -0.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +2%
Chatham County, North Carolina, is often recognized for Jordan Lake, a sprawling 14,000-acre reservoir popular for recreation, situated on its eastern side. The county, centrally located in North Carolina's Piedmont region, is about 20-30 minutes from Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill, offering access to urban amenities while maintaining a rural feel. Commute options include major highways like US 64, US 421, and US 15-501, with public transportation provided by Chatham Transit Network and Chapel Hill Transit. The area features extensive woodlands and river systems like the Haw and Deep Rivers, providing opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.
Life in Chatham County blends rural charm with modern opportunities, attracting families, retirees, and remote workers. The public school system is highly rated, with Chatham County Schools serving over 9,000 students. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by residential and commercial development, infrastructure projects, and manufacturing. Major investments are flowing into various sectors, creating new job opportunities and fostering a business-friendly environment.
Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 12.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
John Palmour Manufacturing Center for Silicon Carbide
Wolfspeed
|
$5,000M | Under Construction |
|
Chatham Park (Master-Planned Community)
Preston Development Company
|
$5,000M | Under Construction |
|
VinFast Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Plant
VinFast
|
$4,000M | Under Construction |
|
Chatham County Public Facilities Upgrades (HVAC & Roofs)
Chatham County
|
$91M | Planned |
|
Solar Farm Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various (e.g., Cypress Creek Renewables, Strata Solar, Siler City Solar 2, LLC)
|
$50M | Operating/Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Chatham County scores just 0/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #982 of 996 counties. Job growth at +6.9% and median household income of $84,222 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Chatham County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $373,300 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $995/month on average.
Chatham County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.2% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +6.9% clip. Home values shifted +0.3% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.66% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Chatham County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.