Chatham, MA vs Winchendon, MA

The cost of living difference between Chatham, MA and Winchendon, MA is dramatic. Winchendon is 104.4% cheaper than Chatham, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Chatham has a cost index of 192 while Winchendon sits at 94, 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 $1,217/month in Winchendon — a 24% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chatham has cheaper rent, Winchendon actually has lower median home values ($258,300 vs $1,550,000).

Median household income in Chatham is $82,269 compared to $67,188 in Winchendon (+22.4%). 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, less than the 21.7% in Winchendon.