At a Glance
Median Income
$39,809
$23,451 per capita
Home Value
$85,400
Zillow: $259,705
Median Rent
$1,080/mo
36.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
1,383/100K
3,005/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
13.3%
86.1% high school+
Unemployment
10.4%
25.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.1%
24.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
57°F
293 sunny days/yr
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?
C
2.4 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Chester residents earn a median household income of $39,809 , which is 47% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $23,451. The unemployment rate stands at 10.4% (189% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 25.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 14,424 business establishments, including 1,170 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Chester is $85,400 , 70% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $259,705. Median rent is $1,080/month, with 36.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1947.
Safety & Crime
Chester reports 1,383 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 264% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,005/100K. The murder rate is 53.1/100K.
Education
13.3% of adults in Chester hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(61% below the national average).
86.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 7.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Chester has an average annual temperature of 57°F (14°C).
Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 41.7 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.
Data Overview
People
Population33,209
Median Age33.3 yrs
Density6,876/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans5.4%
Economy
D
Median Income$39,809
Per Capita$23,451
Unemployment10.4%
Poverty25.2%
County GDP$42,608M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,407
Housing
A+
Home Value$85,400
Rent$1,080
Ownership40.9%
Zillow$259,705
Housing Units14,544
Rent Burden36.3%
Crime
F
Violent1,383/100K
Property3,005/100K
Murder53.1/100K
Assault826/100K
Burglary749/100K
Health
Obesity34.1%
Diabetes13.5%
Smoking24.3%
Heart Disease6.8%
Premature Death7,708/100K
Climate
Avg Temp57°F
Sunny Days293/yr
Rain41.7 in/yr
AQI41 (Good)
Elevation56 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+13.3%
High School+86.1%
Graduate+3.5%
School Score7.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 38% / D 61%
Commute22 min
Broadband85.9%
Internet Speed279 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries28
Did You Know?
Chester was founded in 1682.
The median home in Chester was built in 1947.
The nearest airport is Philadelphia International (7 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.482 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
15.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 279 Mbps.
There are 1,170 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 24 fatal vehicle crashes.
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