Chatham, IL — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Illinois·Chatham

Sangamon County · Springfield · population 14,639

InvestorsSmall-town feel
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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76
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Chatham stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 8.1% in the last year. averaging 8.0% annual growth over 5 years.

Median home $301,287
1-year +8.1%
5-yr CAGR +8.0%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +0.5%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$301k$173k$220k$267k$313k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
58/100
Workable for remote workers
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 15.1
Lean buy

At a 15.1 price-to-rent ratio, Chatham is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
85 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
79 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
54 · w16%
Home 10-yr CAGR
61 · w10%
Long thesis

Chatham has averaged 8.0% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+8.1% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.

Short thesis

Chatham's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Chatham

Chatham is a city in Sangamon County, Illinois, with an estimated population of 14,639. It anchors the Springfield metro area. The median home value in Chatham is $301,287 as of 2026-04, up 8.1% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +8.0% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Chatham average $1,660 per month. The composite momentum score is 76 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Multi-year compounder: home values up an average 8.0% per year over the last 5 years — sustained, not a one-year pop.
●Trend still working: prices up 8.1% in the last 12 months — buyers are still chasing inventory.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.
○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Sangamon County right now.

NWS active alerts (IL)Illinois Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Sangamon County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Chatham

Beach Park, IL75 · RisingLoves Park, IL78 · HotSandwich, IL79 · HotRockton, IL78 · Hot

Run the numbers for Chatham

ToolCan I afford Chatham?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Chatham rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Chatham to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolChatham cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
33° / 18°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
85° / 64°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
189
~52% of year
Annual precip
38″ rain
22″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
High
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Chatham listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Springfield area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$78,400
Illinois state median
Top industries (state-level)
FinanceManufacturingHealthcare

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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