At a Glance
Median Income
$86,042
$29,152 per capita
Home Value
$203,300
Zillow: $309,989
Median Rent
$1,095/mo
13.8% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
16.1%
97.9% high school+
Unemployment
3.6%
1.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
31.2%
13.8% smoking rate
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)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Chester a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.9 / 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 $86,042 , which is 14% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $29,152. The unemployment rate stands at 3.6% (0% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 1.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 4,928 business establishments, including 384 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Chester is $203,300 , 28% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $309,989. Median rent is $1,095/month, with 13.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 105.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.
Education
16.1% of adults in Chester hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(52% below the national average).
97.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Chester has an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C).
Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 54.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.
Data Overview
People
Population692
Median Age42.6 yrs
Density494/mi²
Male / Female45% / 55%
Foreign Born0.0%
Veterans4.0%
Economy
A+
Median Income$86,042
Per Capita$29,152
Unemployment3.6%
Poverty1.9%
County GDP$10,389M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,192
Housing
A+
Home Value$203,300
Rent$1,095
Ownership70.5%
Zillow$309,989
Housing Units293
Rent Burden13.8%
Health
Obesity31.2%
Diabetes7.8%
Smoking13.8%
Heart Disease4.9%
Premature Death5,587/100K
Climate
Avg Temp45°F
Rain54.1 in/yr
AQI35 (Good)
Elevation597 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+16.1%
High School+97.9%
Graduate+8.0%
School Score6.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 28% / D 70%
Commute30 min
Broadband83.0%
Internet Speed145 Mbps
EV Stations28
Libraries25
Did You Know?
The median home in Chester was built in 1938.
The nearest airport is Westfield-Barnes Regional (16 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.461 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
14.5% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 145 Mbps.
There are 384 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 9 fatal vehicle crashes.