Chester, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Howard County County

3.7 /5.0
B+ Good
141 Population 102/sq mi density
$57,500 Median Income $30,698 per capita
$101,800 Home Value $212,158 Zillow
$513 Median Rent 16.8% income on rent
45°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.7 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$57,500 median income, 2.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$101,800 home value, $513/mo rent
D
Education
2.0 / 5.0
12.2% bachelor's degree or higher

Chester, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$57,500
23% below
$30,698 per capita
Home Value
$101,800
64% below
Zillow: $212,158
Median Rent
$513/mo
56% below
16.8% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
12.2%
64% below
93.9% high school+
Unemployment
2.7%
25% below
0.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.3%
26% above
19.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
45°F

How Chester Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Chester's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
77%
Home Value
36%
Rent
44%
Poverty
0%
Bachelor's
36%
Unemployment
75%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Chester a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.7 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Chester residents earn a median household income of $57,500 , which is 23% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $30,698. The unemployment rate stands at 2.7% (25% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 0.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 341 business establishments, including 17 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Chester is $101,800 , 64% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $212,158. Median rent is $513/month, with 16.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.

Education

12.2% of adults in Chester hold a bachelor's degree or higher (64% below the national average). 93.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Chester has an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C). Winters average 15°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.4 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population141
Median Age39.5 yrs
Density102/mi²
Male / Female46% / 54%
Foreign Born0.0%
Veterans6.4%

Economy

A
Median Income$57,500
Per Capita$30,698
Unemployment2.7%
Poverty0.0%
County GDP$727M
Avg Weekly Wage$927

Housing

A+
Home Value$101,800
Rent$513
Ownership84.5%
Zillow$212,158
Housing Units73
Rent Burden16.8%

Health

Obesity40.3%
Diabetes11.0%
Smoking19.6%
Heart Disease6.6%
Premature Death6,255/100K

Climate

Avg Temp45°F
Rain36.4 in/yr
Elevation1,213 ft

Education

D
Bachelor's+12.2%
High School+93.9%
Graduate+0.0%
School Score5.5/10

Community

2024 VoteR 65% / D 33%
Commute34 min
Broadband86.2%
Internet Speed90 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries3

Did You Know?

The median home in Chester was built in 1938.
The nearest airport is Rochester International (30 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.419 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
22.7% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.