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| What Chatham is like for active adults |
Probably everyone has a vision of Cape Cod, even if you haven't been there. Picture a wealthy and postcard-perfect Cape Cod, and you have Chatham, Massachusetts. For many active adults, it could be the perfect retirement community. Set at the Cape’s outer elbow, the town’s is surrounded on 3 sides by ocean. The Chatham Bar is an extremely long sand bar that is hazardous enough to warrant the Chatham Light, a lighthouse that has been warning off sailors for centuries. Monomoy Island is just off the coast to the southeast.
There is excellent shopping on the quaint Main Street. Many good area restaurants offer fresh seafood as well as sophisticated menus. As you drive along the town’s roads, your eyes will be treated to competing views - the ocean’s pounding surf, fishing vessels, and large and beautiful homes in the Cape Cod and Nantucket style.
Active adults are flocking to the Cape for its beauty and relatively mild (for New England) climate. In fact there is not really a slow time here any more, just a less crowded season. Children and grandchildren love to visit here. There are many very good golf courses. The art and antiques scene is first rate. Towns butt up against each other here, so if you choose not to live in Chatham as your retirement community,the nearby towns of Harwich, Orleans, Yarmouth, and Brewster off somewhat similar experiences.
In this community you generally must buy or rent a home, although some condominiums are available. Retirement living in town is very attractive in many quiet neighborhoods, and there are a lot of water views over the ocean, bays, and inlets such as Stage Harbor. Prices are very high, reflecting Chatham’s presence at the top of the Cape Cod real estate food chain. According to Yahoo Real Estate the MLS median asking price of 162 homes offered for sale in mid 2007 was $749,000. There were 125 homes in the classified listings with a median price of $829,000.
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| What is special about this community |
| • Charming downtown with excellent shopping and restaurants
• Chatham Bars Inn
• The ocean and the Chatham Bar on 3 sides, topped by the Chatham Light
• Monomoy Island and Stage Harbor
• Ocean views and beaches |
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| What is not special about this community |
| The only possible bad things to say about Chatham are that it is expensive, and crowded in season |
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| What kinds of people like living here |
| Chatham attracts a community of retirees who want to live in a charming and historic old town where just about everything is beautiful. For more information about how to retire in Massachusetts or towns like Williamstown |
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| Local economy is driven by |
| The economy is driven by tourism, construction, and the remnants of some fishing |
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| Physical environment |
| Chatham is on the outer elbow of the Cape, east of Falmouth as it turns toward its terminus in Provincetown. Chatham is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and bays on 3 sides, and gently rolling land on the other. |
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| Cultural environment |
| Art and antiquing are big here. The Chatham Historical Society has an excellent collection and frequent program. The Society is located in the historic Atwood House Museum, one of the oldest homes in town and which dates to 1752. |
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| Medical facilities |
| Cape Cod Hospital is 23 miles away in Hyannis |
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| Transportation |
| Barnstable Airport is 22 miles away in Hyannis |
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| Chatham Active Communities |
| Facts about CHATHAM | | State | : MA | | Environment | : Coastal, | | City Population | : Less than 10,000 | | Median age of Population | : 45-64 | | Avg Jan Temperature | : 21-40 | | Median HH Income | : 41,001-60,000 | | Average Home Price (MLS) | : $500,001+ | | Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house | : NA | | Total Crime Index | : <80 (Very low) | | Cost of Living Index | : 121+ (very high) | | Culture Index | : 101-110 (slightly above average) | | Name of the Guide | : |
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Vote on the Ratings for Chatham |
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Update Your Ratings |
Overall Retirement Ratings
1. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Expense:
Inexpensive to Luxury
2. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Taxes:
Inexpensive to Expensive
3. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Culture:
None to Cosmopolitan
4. Rating: 2.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Recreation:
None to Summer camp
5. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Transportation:
Boondocks to World Hub
6. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Security:
Dangerous to Ft. Knox
7. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Medical Facilities:
None to Excellent
8. Rating: 2.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Political Situation:
Conservative to Liberal
9. Rating: 2.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Environmental:
Oblivious to Ultra-Green
10. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
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