Chatham is a town in and county seat of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. Chatham's population was 1,232 at the 2020 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia metropolitan area. The town was originally called Competition, but the name was changed to Chatham by the Virginia General Assembly on May 1, 1852. Chatham is home to Chatham High School, Hargrave Military Academy, and Chatham Hall, an all-female boarding high school.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code24531

Area code434

Living in Chatham

Housing in Chatham

$174K▲ 3.2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Chatham home is worth about $174,000, up 3.2% in a year, 58% below the Virginia typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market95

Sale-to-list93.9%

Sold in May5

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Chatham

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Chatham's police department reported only 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Chatham 0

Virginia 2.1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Chatham 4.2

Virginia 13.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Chatham

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Chatham for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are Danville (19%), Greensboro (3%) and Lynchburg (3%). Half commute less than 18 miles.

Danville

19%

Greensboro, NC

Lynchburg

Altavista

17%Work in townlive and work in Chatham 18 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 3,212Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Chatham →

Health in Chatham

Health Grade D

Healthier than 7% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Virginia

1better than VA·21worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 10 are too close to call.

Conditions 10▼ 2 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 1▲ 2▼ 4 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

80.5%More adults treating high blood pressureVA 76.8% · better 21.4%More older adults who have lost all their teethVA 11.1% · worse

Care nearby

Sovah Health DanvilleDanville · 16.2 mi · ER

Health Centers of the Piedmont - ChathamChatham · 0.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Chatham · CMS · HRSAHealth in Chatham →

Natural hazards in Chatham

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 17% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌀 Hurricanes🏚️ Earthquakes

0Does Chatham flood?no paid flood claims on record 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Chatham

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Chatham →

Climate in Chatham

Full climate →

Chatham has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 6 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

50° / 28°Winter

69° / 44°Spring

86° / 64°Summer

70° / 46°Fall

How much snow does Chatham get?About 6 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 23, with the last in spring around Apr 22.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Chatham →

Schools in Chatham

All Chatham schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Chatham’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 70% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictPittsylvania County Public SchoolsSchools2

Hargrave Military AcademyHigh · Grades 7–12 · 146 students Victory Academy/Ready for Success

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within VA. Ratings are from neighbors.