At a Glance
Median Income
$53,583
$36,857 per capita
Home Value
$156,900
Zillow: $211,963
Median Rent
$662/mo
35.4% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
27.0%
91.6% high school+
Unemployment
0.8%
12.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.5%
18.9% 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?
A
4.0 / 5.0 - Great
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Chester residents earn a median household income of $53,583 , which is 29% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $36,857. The unemployment rate stands at 0.8% (78% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 601 business establishments, including 56 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Chester is $156,900 , 44% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $211,963. Median rent is $662/month, with 35.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1967.
Education
27.0% of adults in Chester hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(20% below the national average).
91.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.9/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Chester has an average annual temperature of 41°F (5°C).
Winters average 16°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 12.3 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population704
Median Age53.3 yrs
Density1,437/mi²
Male / Female41% / 59%
Foreign Born0.4%
Veterans13.7%
Economy
B+
Median Income$53,583
Per Capita$36,857
Unemployment0.8%
Poverty12.7%
County GDP$925M
Avg Weekly Wage$946
Housing
A+
Home Value$156,900
Rent$662
Ownership56.6%
Zillow$211,963
Housing Units427
Rent Burden35.4%
Health
Obesity34.5%
Diabetes9.9%
Smoking18.9%
Heart Disease6.4%
Premature Death12,044/100K
Climate
Avg Temp41°F
Rain12.3 in/yr
Elevation3,134 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+27.0%
High School+91.6%
Graduate+5.4%
School Score4.9/10
Community
2024 VoteR 57% / D 39%
Commute16 min
Broadband63.9%
Internet Speed71 Mbps
Libraries1
Did You Know?
The median home in Chester was built in 1967.
The nearest airport is Cut Bank International (65 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.409 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
26.3% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.