North Carolina · county seat: Pittsboro
Chatham County, NC
About Chatham County
Chatham County is the Triangle's countryside: rolling farmland, three rivers (the Haw, the Deep and the Rocky), and small towns with deep roots, all within reach of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Pittsboro is the county seat; Siler City and Goldston are its other towns, and parts of Cary and Apex extend into the county's northeast corner.
Jordan Lake, about 14,000 acres of water with swim beaches, boat ramps and campgrounds, is one of the most visited state recreation areas in North Carolina and a well-known place to see bald eagles. The Lower Haw River State Natural Area protects river trails between Pittsboro and Fearrington Village, the planned village known for its gardens, inn and shops. Local farms, farmers' markets, potters and artists are part of the county's character.
Most of the county is unincorporated, with communities such as Fearrington Village and Moncure, and each area pays a fire district tax on top of the county rate. Chatham County funds Chatham County Schools and part of Central Carolina Community College.
Towns in Chatham County
Property tax rates, 2026 tax year
The county rate is $0.6000 per $100 of tax value: about $2,400 a year on a $400,000 tax value. Every address pays it, plus its town's rate, or a fire district's rate outside the towns.
| Town | Town rate | With county rate | On a $400,000 home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsboro | $0.4400 | $1.0400 | $4,160 |
| Siler City | $0.5400 | $1.1400 | $4,560 |
| Goldston · Includes the Goldston sanitary district (0.275) | $0.2900 | $1.1650 | $4,660 |
| Cary (Chatham County portion) | $0.3675 | $0.9675 | $3,870 |
| Apex (Chatham County portion) | $0.3735 | $0.9735 | $3,894 |
Fire and special districts (15)
| District | District rate | With county rate |
|---|---|---|
| Central Chatham Fire District | $0.1200 | $0.7200 |
| Bonlee Fire District | $0.0700 | $0.6700 |
| Goldston Fire District | $0.1150 | $0.7150 |
| Moncure Fire District | $0.1375 | $0.7375 |
| Circle City Fire District | $0.1125 | $0.7125 |
| North Chatham Fire District | $0.1150 | $0.7150 |
| Bells Annex Fire District | $0.1150 | $0.7150 |
| Hope Fire District | $0.0975 | $0.6975 |
| Staley Fire District | $0.1000 | $0.7000 |
| Northview Fire District | $0.0940 | $0.6940 |
| Parkwood Fire District | $0.0854 | $0.6854 |
| Bennett Fire District | $0.1100 | $0.7100 |
| Sanitary District | $0.1600 | $0.7600 |
| Sanitary District / Goldston | $0.2750 | $0.8750 |
| Sanitary District / Northview | $0.2540 | $0.8540 |
Fees on the tax bill: Solid waste fee $157 (county); Pittsboro $250; Goldston $110; Siler City varies.
Source: Chatham County Tax Administration, "Chatham County 2026 tax rates", checked 2026-10-20. The combined rate is the county rate plus the town or district rate, except where noted. Your bill is your county tax value times the combined rate, divided by 100.
Chatham County's budget, FY2027
FY2027 (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027). Approved by the Board of Commissioners on June 15, 2026, with no change to the tax rate.
- Chatham County Schools (net county cost): $69.4 million p. 8
- Total taxable property: $23.44 billion p. 8
- Property tax revenue: $139.5 million p. 8
Net cost of county functions (paid by county revenue) p. 8
Sources: Chatham County FY2026-2027 Approved Budget; Chatham County Approved FY 2026-2027 Budget. Figures copied from the documents; each page link opens the page it came from.