25,000 Chatham Citizens All in this together

Chatham sits at the southeastern tip of Cape Cod—the "elbow" where the peninsula bends into the Atlantic. We're one of 15 towns that make up Cape Cod, located 35 miles from the Sagamore Bridge and just 28 miles from Nantucket Island. 

The Numbers:

• Population: ~6,600 year-round (swells to 20,000+ in summer)

• Size: 24.4 square miles

• Founded: 1712 (settled 1664)

• Median Home Value: $1.55 million

• Public Safety: 21 police officers, 30 firefighters/EMTs

How We Govern:

Chatham operates under an Open Town Meeting—any registered voter can vote on the budget and bylaws. A 5-member elected Select Board handles day-to-day policy and appoints our Town Manager. Critical for this issue: The Select Board decides the residential tax exemption annually—NOT Town Meeting.

Our Tax Base:

7,403 residential properties: 44% year-round, 56% part-time. But part-time residents pay 66% of residential taxes ($29.4M of $44.6M total). Why? Higher average property values.

The Issue:

A proposed residential tax exemption would shift $5.4 million annually from part-time to year-round residents, with zero income testing. Wealthy and struggling residents get identical tax breaks. Year-round renters pay more through higher rents, get nothing back.

What Makes Us Special:

• 3rd most valuable fishing port in Massachusetts

• Oyster aquaculture with innovative upweller systems since 1976

• Two historic lighthouses (Chatham Light, est. 1808, still operational)

• Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (7,750 acres)

• Legendary 4th of July parade

• Community commitment: 35 miles from the bridge, bound by something stronger than geography

That's why we formed the RTA  (Chatham Responsible Taxpayers Alliance)—year-round and part-time residents advocating together for smarter, fairer tax relief that helps those who genuinely need it.