Chatham, MA vs Smith Mills, MA

The cost of living difference between Chatham, MA and Smith Mills, MA is dramatic. Smith Mills is 125.7% cheaper than Chatham, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Chatham has a cost index of 192 while Smith Mills sits at 85, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Chatham is $924/month compared to $599/month in Smith Mills — a 54% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Smith Mills is more affordable at $384,600 median vs $1,550,000.

Median household income in Chatham is $82,269 compared to $56,250 in Smith Mills (+46.3%). Chatham does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Chatham spend roughly 13.5% of their income on rent, more than the 12.8% in Smith Mills.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 50.4°F). Smith Mills receives more rainfall at 45.9" per year compared to 45.2" in Chatham.