What stands out worked out from the figures below

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Chatham has the most people working from home (36.6%).

Summit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing townOutdoorsyWalkable streets

Measure	Chatham	Summit
People
Population	9,407Lowest	22,705Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest NJ: +5.7%	+5.9%Highest NJ: +5.7%
Median age	37.8±1.7Lowest 6% below NJ	41.8±2.2Highest 4% above NJ
Kids under 18	32.7%±4Highest NJ: 21.8%	24.6%±2.3Lowest NJ: 21.8%
Age 65+	10.2%±1.8Lowest NJ: 17.2%	14.6%±1.8Highest NJ: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	83.7%Highest NJ: 43.6%	72.5%Lowest NJ: 43.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.4Lowest NJ: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest NJ: 6.4%
	Summit and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$241,500±$24kHighest 133% above NJ	$190,304±$35kLowest 84% above NJ
	Chatham and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$984,900±$45kLowest 117% above NJ	$994,500±$81kHighest 119% above NJ
	Summit and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,250±$139Lowest 31% above NJ	$2,430±$210Highest 41% above NJ
	Summit and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 4% above NJ	$10,000+ at least 4% above NJ
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±14.5Lowest NJ: 51.6%	45%±9Highest NJ: 51.6%
	Summit and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.2%Lowest NJ: 9.7%	5.5%Highest NJ: 9.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Highest NJ: 63.8%	68.3%Lowest NJ: 63.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 19 yrs older than NJ	1953Highest 17 yrs older than NJ
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 29% above NJ	34 minLowest 10% above NJ
Work from home	36.6%±5.2Highest NJ: 16.8%	23.8%±2.7Lowest NJ: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 457 in NJ	#11 of 457 in NJ
School district	School District of the Chathams	Summit Public School District
High school in town	None in town	Summit High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	4 photos →	None yet

NJ average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.