The population of the greater Chatham City area is largely non-labor, with a high percentage of the non-labor population. Compared to Chicago, where this percentage is less than 20 percent, Chatham's non-labor population is growing. This is due in part to the high concentration of African-Americans and other minorities in the city, and the relatively low cost of living in the area.
During the summer months, the population of the South Chatham City area exceeds 30,000 people, causing overcrowding at city facilities and a long walk to the sandy shores. The smallpox epidemic that struck the city during Dec. 1765-Jan. 1766 left the town hard-hit, with the Stephen Ryder family particularly affected. Fortunately, Chatham is located only about 35 miles from Provincetown and eighty miles from Boston.
The town's main street is a pedestrian-friendly area, with many family-run businesses. The town has several intersections that allow bicyclists to travel and enjoy the city. There is also on-street parallel parking and some parking lots off Main Street. The Chatham Anglers baseball and volleyball teams are located nearby. They play in the Cape Cod Baseball League. In addition to their professional baseball and volleyball teams, Chatham has a small airport for emergency medical care.
Despite this, the Greater Chatham area is home to some of the city's small and minority businesses. The area's average revenue per business was nearly twice that of Chicago, suggesting that local businesses are serving a community with tighter income constraints. For this reason, a larger proportion of minority businesses in the South Chatham area is more likely to grow and thrive. That's good news for the local economy.