Chatham is a city that was first settled in 1710 and was known as John Day's Bridge. It was renamed Chatham in 1773 in honor of Sir William Pitt, who was a British Prime minister and the first Earl of Chatham. Chatham is famous for its rose growing industry, specifically, the American Beauty Rose. The town was incorporated in 1806. Chatham is part of the New York City metro area, located about 26 miles east of lower Manhattan.
The town has beautiful neighborhoods, as well as many monuments and landmarks from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Downtown Chatham is lined with unique shops and places to eat. Lots of families are moving to Chatham as the schools are excellent, making Chatham a nice place to live. Chatham also offers a lot of outdoor activities. The commute to New York Penn Station takes about 45 to 60 minutes for those working in New York.
If you’re planning on moving to Chatham, here is everything you need to know about this historic town.
Chatham is located in Morris County, about 26 miles west of downtown New York City. Chatham is bordered by Summit to the south, Madison to the northwest, and Milburn to the east.
The Chatham population is 10,983 people according to the 2020 census, an increase of about 500 from 10,452 in 2010. The median household income for Chatham is $205,591, about $135,000 higher than the national average of $70,784.
The racial demographics of Chatham:
Additional Chatham demographics:
Chatham is a very safe place to live. The total crime rate in Chatham, NJ is 69% lower than the national average. Violent crime is 97% lower. The crime rate in Chatham is 722 crimes per 100,000 people,12 violent crimes per 100,000 people, and 720 property crimes per 100,000 people. The Chatham Police Department protects and serves the people of Chatham efficiently and professionally.
Chatham is not considered an affordable place to live. The cost of living in Chatham is 70% higher than the national average and 49% higher than the state average. Here is how costs compare to the U.S. average:
Chatham real estate is very expensive. Home prices are 230% higher in Chatham than the national average and 172% higher than the state average. The Chatham housing market is very competitive. Home prices in Chatham were up 14.2% compared to last year, and the average home price in Chatham is $800,000. Homes in Chatham average 22 days on the market compared to 38 days last year. You can check out Chatham, NJ homes for sale to see homes that fit your needs in the area.
The average rent in Chatham is $2,535 for an 850 square feet apartment. Rental cost varies greatly by unit type and number of bedrooms.
Chatham has some of the best neighborhoods in New Jersey to choose from, close to excellent schools, parks, downtown, and the train station. Here are some of the top neighborhoods in Chatham NJ.
Rolling Hill is one of the best Chatham neighborhoods. It features expansive homes, large, manicured yards, and beautiful, tree-lined streets. Walk to top-rated Southern Boulevard Elementary School and the Colony Pool Club, a popular local swim club. Fairmount Country Club is right next door, with a golf course, driving range, tennis and paddle courts, and a swimming pool. The train station is only 2 miles away with service to New York and Jersey City. Home prices range from about $725,000 to over $4,000,000.
Lafayette features beautiful homes and is close to historic downtown Chatham, boutiques, restaurants, and the Chatham Train Station. Nearby Cougar Field teams for football, lacrosse, soccer, and track & field are available for kids of all ages. This is one of the best places to live in Chatham. Home prices average $2,000,000 to $3,000,000.
The Highlands offers Colonial-style homes with spacious, beautifully landscaped yards and lots of privacy. The neighborhood overlooks the Great Swamp Nature Preserve and the Watchung Mountain Reservation. Downtown is only 3 miles away. A home in The Highlands costs from $750,000 to well over $3,000,000.
Chatham features warm, humid, and wet summers and very cold, snowy winters. July is the hottest month, where the average high temperature is 85.3°, and January is the coldest month where the low temperatures average a frigid 19.2°. Chatham is colder than most places in New Jersey. It also averages 50 inches of rain per year and 25 inches of snow. The Chatham climate is humid subtropical. Because of this, the best time to visit Chatham is in June or September.
There are lots of interesting and fun things to do in Chatham. Chatham also has the Mall at Short Hills is only a 5-minute drive away from Chatham, where you’ll find many shops and dining opportunities. Below are a few of the Chatham attractions you won’t want to miss.
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At the Twin Elephant Brewing Company, you’ll find one of the most exciting and fun tasting menus for an experience you won’t forget. They use locally sourced ingredients when creating their signature drinks, and they feature a wide range of beers, from classic favorites to new and fresh flavors.
13 Watchung Ave, Chatham Borough, NJ 07928, (973) 507-9862
The Gravity Vault offers 14,000+ square feet of indoor rock climbing for kids, adults, novices, and experts. You can learn, train, and enjoy rock climbing together all in one place. This adventurous Chatham thing to do for date night is one you won’t want to miss.
40 Watchung Avenue, Chatham, NJ 07928, (973) 701-7625
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge spans 12 square miles and features a visitor center, wildlife observation center, and over eight miles of wilderness trails. If you’re looking for fun activities for kids in Chatham, this is it!
32 Pleasant Plains Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, (973) 425-1222
Chatham Parks and Recreation has several parks for recreation, including Our Colony Pool, a spring-fed, clear-water pond, six public tennis courts, Castle Park playground, and the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Chatham provides sports and recreation programs for youth and adults through the recreation department. You can also find fun things to do by checking out the Chatham City Events Calendar.
You’ll find everything from fine dining to home cooking restaurants in Chatham. Here are some of the top restaurants in Chatham.
Award-winning Scalini Fedeli is one of the highest rated Italian restaurants in New Jersey. They offer modern, upscale Italian food in a classic Italian atmosphere. The menu features soft egg yolk raviolo with ricotta and truffle butter and the finest venison chop in a port wine and balsamic vinegar sauce in the New York area.
63 Main St, Chatham, NJ, 07928, (973) 701-9200
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Charley’s aunt is the home for comfort food in Chatham. Try one of the daily specials, classic sandwiches, pasta, or their famous steakburgers. Charley’s aunt also has a wide range of beers on tap. Their catering service is great for your next party as well.
8 S Passaic Ave, Chatham NJ 07928, (973) 635 6772
Mitsuba is a sushi bar offering the best, freshest rolls and assortments for every palate. The Volcano roll packs a punch with spicy tuna and chili sauce. Mitsuba also serves delicious shumai dumplings, miso soup, and seafood stew. This is the perfect Chatham restaurant for date night.
237 Main St, Chatham, NJ 07928, (973) 635-3888
The largest industries in Chatham are finance & insurance, professional, scientific, & technical services, and manufacturing. The highest-paying industries are professional, scientific, & technical services, professional, scientific, & management, & administrative & waste management services, and finance & insurance. Check out Indeed or other job search sites for current jobs in Chatham. The projected economic growth in Chatham is 23.5% over the next 10 years.
Major employers in Chatham:
The average salary for Chatham residents is $89,000 according to Payscale.
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The School District of the Chathams serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. The 6 highly-ranked district schools enroll about 3,930 students. The student–teacher ratio is 11.5:1. In 2004–2005, Chatham High School was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.
The closest college to Chatham is Drew University in Madison, 2.4 miles away. The top rated college in the area is Princeton University, ranked #1 in the nation by CollegeSimply. The largest college near Chatham is New York University, with 58,226 students. Mercer County Community College in West Windsor offers the cheapest tuition at $4,728 per year. Students can also enjoy Library of the Chathams, which is the Chatham public library.
There’s so much to love here! Explore more great things in the Chatham area with this map.
If you’re moving to Chatham, our top-rated team at Catlow Movers is the best Chatham mover in the area. You can trust us to make your move smooth and hassle free. Call us today at 201-653-1808 for a free quote!
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