Washington County Courthouse, 2007
Chatom’s story
122 years in pictures
Census counts: 609 in 1950, 1,104 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and a map from 1984 on.
- 1904Chatom is settled
ChatomAL
A town of 1,054, settled in 1904.
Photo: Calvin Beale · Public domain
Population
1,054
2025 Census estimate · −3.7% since 2020
Median home value
$174K
Census ACS
Median age
52.3
years
Jobs based here
829
A job hub
Is Chatom a good place to live?
Chatom’s best subject grade is an A+ for cost of living; its weakest is a D for hazard risk. 33% of residents live below the poverty line in Chatom, above both the Alabama town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 15 of Alabama’s 308 towns score higher on cost of living. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 79% of U.S. towns. Chatom has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Chatom stand out
Where Chatom beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A shrinking town
Chatom has shrunk 18% since 2010
1,288 counted in 2010 and 1,104 in 2020; an estimated 1,054 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Chatom grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alabama), ordered by how far Chatom is from typical.
Cost of livingTypical home $174K, 2.9 years of the county’s $61K median household incomeA+Open →Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.8 of 20; 7.3% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →HealthWashington County Hospital 0.9 miles awayC+Open →SchoolsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trailsDOpen →History1 notable person born hereDOpen →Civic life7.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Chatom: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Chatom, and how to reach them.
PowerClarke-Washington E M C15.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterChatom, the Utilities Board of the TownNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers24% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Chatom’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Alabama you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWashington County Circuit ClerkWashington County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP code3651836518 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Chatom.
Work & commute
Chatom has 2.1 jobs for every working resident, and 770 people commute in
Most working residents leave Chatom for work: only 15% work in town. Since 2013, Chatom has lost 89 jobs, to 829 in 2023. The top destinations are Mobile (9%), Jackson (5%) and Leroy (2%).
15%work in town
| Chatom | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 15% | 10% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Chatom15%
Mobile9%
Jackson5%
Leroy2%
Montgomery2%
36 mi
median commute distance
829
jobs based in Chatom
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 21% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB
On state tests, Chatom’s schools beat 61% of Alabama districts
Its public schools are run by the Washington County school district. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Washington County High School, with 395 students.
61%of AL districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatom Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 313 | A− |
| Washington County High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 5–12 | Grades 5–12 | 395 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Chatom faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by hurricanes
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 85% of U.S. communities.
85risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingTornadoes
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
The median age in Chatom is higher than in most of Alabama or the rest of the country
At 52.3 years, Chatom’s median age is where Alabama’s towns sit at 39.2 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. Chatom has lost 3.7% of its people since 2020, down to 1,054 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 29% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 28% across Alabama.
52.3median age · AL 39.3
| Chatom | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.3 years | 39.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 29% | 23% | 29% |
ChatomAlabamaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma12%
High school33%
Some college16%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s10%
Graduate19%
Women and men · all residents
58% women, 42% men
About 74 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±7.5 points). Across Alabama, 51.4% of residents are women.
| Chatom | AL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.6% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.7% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.2% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 5.5% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.7% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.7% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 16.5% | 10.7% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 17.5% | 7.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 12.3% | 11.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 32.8% | 30.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.6% | 20.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.2% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 9.9% | 17.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 19.2% | 11.1% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,100, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Chatom has mild winters and hot summers
Chatom has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Chatom’s July high is 91°F.
91°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter39–62°
Spring53–78°
Summer70–91°
Fall54–78°
Nov 8
typical first frost
Mar 26
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
91°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthC+
Chatom is less healthy than 61% of U.S. towns
Chatom beats the Alabama average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 45% of Chatom adults have high blood pressure.
39%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Chatom | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 43% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 14% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 40% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 36% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Alabama
2 better29 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Chatom | AL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 8.4% | 9.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.8% | 8.2% |
Washington County Hospital
0.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Safety
In Chatom, violent crime runs lower than in the typical Alabama or U.S. town
The violent crime rate in Chatom is 0 per 1,000 residents. Chatom's reported crime rate is well below Alabama's. The property crime rate in Chatom is 8.5 per 1,000 residents.
| Chatom | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 1.7 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 8.5 per 1,000 residents | 19.5 | 11.5 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Chatom0
Alabama3.8
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Chatom8.5
Alabama16.4
U.S.17.7
0
violent crimes reported in 2024
9
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade A+
A home in Chatom sells for about $220K at the median
No town among the 178 in Alabama we compare has a lower median rent than Chatom.
$220Kmedian sale price
| Chatom | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $382 a month | $940 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 75% | 69% | 73% |
1
homes sold in April
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 6,836 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Jordan Park | 0.3 mi | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Chatom
19pages on Chatom
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Chatom; the nearest are
University of MobileUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Mobile47.2 mi$26,910 tuitionCoastal Alabama Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Bay Minette50.9 mi$5,040 in-state tuitionUniversity of South AlabamaUniversity or college · Public · Mobile53.6 mi$10,116 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Chatom residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Alabama.
Small town
1,054 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
About Chatom
Town in Washington County, Alabama, US
Chatom is a town in Washington County, Alabama, United States. It incorporated in 1949. Chatom is the county seat of Washington County, holding the distinction since 1907. As of the 2020 census, Chatom had a population of 1,104.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1904
- Area
- 11 sq mi
- Elevation
- 210 ft
- ZIP code
- 36518
- Area code
- 251
Questions about Chatom
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Chatom, AL expensive?
Not for the area. The typical home is worth about $174,000, 27% below the Alabama typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.