Vacant Housing on the Rise in Chatham Borough

The median age in Chatham Borough decreased by just over one year, according to the latest data from the 2010 census, which supports enrollment statistics from the School District of the Chathams, which shows a growing student population among borough elementary schools.

People under 18 saw their numbers grow from 2,392 in the 2000 census to 3,000. Residents over 18 decreased in the borough, with a decrease of 16.9 percent among seniors compared to a drop of 1.7 percent in the overall adult population.

Nearly all minority groups increased their number in the borough, with African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos seeing the greatest increase.

Chatham Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan said that the increase in racial diversity was beneficial to Chatham. "We're beginning to become similar to the rest of the country," he said.

Demographic Profile of Chatham Borough

New details about population and housing from the 2010 Census, released on Thursday. The data is compared with 2000 Census data when available. The change over the decade is given as well.

Subject 2010 2000 Percent change SEX AND AGE


Total population 8,962 8,460 5.9 Median age (years) 38.0 36.9 3.0 Under 18 3,000 2,392 25.4 18 years and over 5,962 6,068 -1.7 65 years and over 912 1,098 -16.9 Male population 4,344 4,037 7.6 Female population 4,618 4,423 4.4 RACE


White 8,167 8,104 0.8 Black or African American 89 12 641.7 American Indian and Alaska Native 18 5 260.0 Asian 435 238 82.8 Asian Indian 95 57 66.7 Chinese 189 116 62.9 Filipino 42 11 281.8 Japanese 10 18 -44.4 Korean 65 26 150.0 Vietnamese 4 1 300.0 Other Asian 30 9 233.3 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander - 1 -100.0 Some Other Race 90 42 114.3 Two or More Races 163 58 181.0 HISPANIC OR LATINO


Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 457 223 104.9 Mexican 59 22 168.2 Puerto Rican 64 29 120.7 Cuban 23 17 35.3 Other Hispanic or Latino 311 155 100.6 HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE


Total households 3,073 3,159 -2.7 Family households (families) 2,398 2,384 0.6 With own children under 18 years 1,478 1,244 18.8 Husband-wife family 2,118 2,137 -0.9 With own children under 18 years 1,328 1,132 17.3 Male householder, no wife present 65 NA
With own children under 18 years 32 NA
Female householder, no husband present 215 201 7.0 With own children under 18 years 118 92 28.3 Nonfamily households 675 775 -12.9 Householder living alone 572 673 -15.0 Male 201 NA
Female 371 NA
Householder 65 and older 244 291 -16.2 Households with individuals under 18 years 1,495 1,271 17.6 Households with individuals 65 years and over 648 766 -15.4 Average household size 3 2.7 9.0 Average family size 3 3.1 7.3 HOUSING OCCUPANCY


Total housing units 3,210 3,232 -0.7 Occupied housing units 3,073 3,159 -2.7 Vacant housing units 137 73 87.7 For rent 63 NA
Rented, not occupied 5 NA
For sale only 14 NA
Sold, not occupied 7 NA
For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use 24 10 140.0 All other vacants 24 NA
Homeowner vacancy rate (percent) 1 0.8 -25.0 Rental vacancy rate (percent) 9 2.0 350.0 Source: U.S. Census Bureau. NA means the data was not available. Compiled by Colleen O'Dea.