Chester, PA
Demographics And Statistics

We take you around Chester to find out what it's like to call it home.

Living in Chester, Pennsylvania

Life in Chester research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Chester over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Here's a snapshot of Chester based on the most recently available data.

33,619 Population
$92,319 Median home value
$41,342 Median income
84 Cost of living -16% vs US
$1,091 Median rent
17.6% Unemployment
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Chester SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 3/10
Housing 5/10
Affordability 6/10
Diversity 8.5/10
SafetyN/A
Amenities 9.5/10
Education 5/10
Commute 8/10

Crime in Chester summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Chester. Key points include:

  • There were 957 total crimes in Chester in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Chester is 2,819.3 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Chester is 830.8 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Chester is 1,988.6 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Chester is 33.04% above the national average.

957
Total Crimes
33.04%
Above National Average
Chester
US

Crime In Chester Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Chester
/ 100k People
Pennsylvania
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 957 2,819.3 1,680.6 2,119.2
Violent Crime 282 830.8 245.6 359.0
Murder 20 58.9 5.0 5.0
Robbery 66 194.4 51.4 61.0
Aggravated Assault 176 518.5 161.4 256.0
Property Crime 675 1,988.6 1,435.0 1,760.0
Burglary 113 332.9 116.7 229.0
Larceny 422 1,243.2 1,129.8 1,272.0
Car Theft 140 412.4 188.5 259.0
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Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024)

Cost of living in Chester summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Chester. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Pennsylvania. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Chester is 84 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Chester is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Chester is $92,319.

  • The median income in Chester is $41,342.

84
Chester's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average
Chester
US

Cost Of Living In Chester Comparison Table

Living Expense Chester Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 84 97 100
Services 102 99 100
Groceries 98 100 100
Health 54 88 100
Housing 95 102 100
Transportation 97 100 100
Utilities 100 101 100
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Source: Cost of living index, normalized to US average = 100

Chester, PA Weather

  • The average high in Chester is 64.4° and the average low is 47.6°.

  • There are 63.5 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 43.6 inches of precipitation each year with 11.8 inches of snow.

StatChester
Average Annual High64.4
Average Annual Low47.6
Annual Precipitation Days63.5
Average Annual Precipitation43.6
Average Annual Snowfall11.8
64.4°
Average High
63.5
Days of Rain

Source: NOAA climate normals (30-year)

Chester, PA Photos

Penn Landing Stone
Source: Public Domain
Chester Pa Transportation Center Septa
Source: Public Domain
Chester Pa High School
Source: Public Domain
Chester Pa Ywca Oblique
Source: Public Domain
Chester Pa Armory Entrance
Source: Public Domain
Ppl Park Interior From The Southwest Stands
Source: Wikipedia User Something Original (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0
Pennsylvania Locator Map
Source: Wikipedia User US Census, Ruhrfisch | GFDL
Hendrickson House
Source: Public Domain
Chester Pa Beye View
Source: Public Domain

2 Reviews & Comments About Chester

ChesterWolf The Griffin · None
rating starrating starrating starrating starrating star

This is outdated Chester Pennsylvania which is where I'm from as you can see in my Avatar name. A new survey conducted in 2017 says Chester is number 17 Min unemployment 6 out of every 10 citizens are jobless. The EPA has actually considered putting Chester on the list of top 10 most polluted cities in the world the air pollution in Chester has reached record highs. Chester is also one of the most politically corrupt cities in America. Chester also has the highest homicide and murder rates pertinent next to Chicago. In 2014 Chester crime rate reached an all-time high there were more than 276 murders during the 2014 and 2015 years the United States National Guard and army actually had to patrol the streets of Chester Pennsylvania for 6 years straight they were literally driving around and military-style vehicles..

Duane Armstrong · None
rating star

I was born in Chester went to visit November 2016 stayed till April 2017 and went back to Atlanta will never go back to Chester pa ever in my life again

Rankings & Articles For Chester

Locations Around Chester

Map Of Chester, PA

Best Places Around Chester

1

Ashland, NJ
Population 9,320

$421,294+356% vs Chester
2

Penn Wynne, PA
Population 6,070

$617,130+568% vs Chester
3

Wyndmoor, PA
Population 5,633

$538,809+484% vs Chester
4

Ardmore, PA
Population 13,909

$516,973+460% vs Chester
5

Conshohocken, PA
Population 9,282

$482,551+423% vs Chester
6

Paoli, PA
Population 6,362

$625,861+578% vs Chester
7

Swarthmore, PA
Population 6,550

$467,860+407% vs Chester
8

Haddon Heights, NJ
Population 7,516

$493,148+434% vs Chester
9

Audubon, PA
Population 9,229

$562,102+509% vs Chester
10

Folsom, PA
Population 8,671

$329,799+257% vs Chester

Chester Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Chester

The current population in Chester is 33,619. The population has decreased 2.5% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2024 33,619 1.2%
2023 33,209 0.5%
2022 33,048 0.7%
2021 32,819 -3.1%
2020 33,855 -0.4%
2019 33,982 0.0%
2018 33,977 -0.4%
2017 34,102 0.1%
2016 34,056 0.1%
2015 34,016 0.0%
2014 34,007 -0.0%
2013 34,011 -0.3%
2012 34,127 -0.6%
2011 34,336 -0.4%
2010 34,464 -

Race / Ethnicity in Chester

White 13.3% (4,475)
African American 70.5% (23,697)
American Indian 0.0% (1)
Asian 0.8% (266)
Hawaiian 0.0% (0)
Other 1.5% (498)
Two Or More 2.8% (952)
Hispanic 11.1% (3,730)
See the full breakdown

Chester is:

  • 13.3% White with 4,475 White residents.

  • 70.5% African American with 23,697 African American residents.

  • 0.0% American Indian with 1 American Indian residents.

  • 0.8% Asian with 266 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 1.5% Other with 498 Other residents.

  • 2.8% Two Or More with 952 Two Or More residents.

  • 11.1% Hispanic with 3,730 Hispanic residents.

Race Chester PA USA
White 13.3% 73.0% 57.4%
African American 70.5% 10.3% 11.9%
American Indian 0.0% 0.1% 0.5%
Asian 0.8% 3.8% 5.9%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.0% 0.2%
Other 1.5% 0.5% 0.6%
Two Or More 2.8% 3.6% 4.3%
Hispanic 11.1% 8.7% 19.3%

Gender in Chester

Female 51.3% (17,262)
Male 48.7% (16,357)
See the full breakdown
  • Chester is 51.3% female with 17,262 female residents.

  • Chester is 48.7% male with 16,357 male residents.

Gender Chester PA USA
Female 51.3% 50.7% 50.5%
Male 48.7% 49.3% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Chester for adults over 25

< 9th Grade 5.0% (1,680)
9-12th Grade 11.0% (3,698)
High School / GED 46.0% (15,464)
Some College 17.0% (5,715)
Associate's Degree 7.0% (2,353)
Bachelor's Degree 9.0% (3,025)
Master's Degree 4.0% (1,344)
Professional Degree 0.0% (0)
Doctorate Degree 1.0% (336)
See the full breakdown
  • 5.0% of adults in Chester completed < 9th grade.

  • 11.0% of adults in Chester completed 9-12th grade.

  • 46.0% of adults in Chester completed high school / ged.

  • 17.0% of adults in Chester completed some college.

  • 7.0% of adults in Chester completed associate's degree.

  • 9.0% of adults in Chester completed bachelor's degree.

  • 4.0% of adults in Chester completed master's degree.

  • 0.0% of adults in Chester completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Chester completed doctorate degree.

Education Chester PA USA
< 9th Grade 5.0% 3.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 11.0% 5.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 46.0% 33.0% 26.0%
Some College 17.0% 15.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 7.0% 9.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 9.0% 21.0% 22.0%
Master's Degree 4.0% 10.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 0.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Chester, Pennsylvania

Less than $10,000 9.9% (331,443)
$10,000 to $14,999 8.2% (274,325)
$15,000 to $24,999 14.1% (474,908)
$25,000 to $34,999 10.5% (352,091)
$35,000 to $49,999 16.0% (539,534)
$50,000 to $74,999 16.0% (537,925)
$75,000 to $99,999 11.1% (374,617)
$100,000 to $149,999 8.3% (279,420)
$150,000 to $199,999 3.5% (117,721)
$200,000 or more 2.4% (79,911)
See the full breakdown
  • 9.9% of households in Chester earn Less than $10,000.

  • 8.2% of households in Chester earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 14.1% of households in Chester earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 10.5% of households in Chester earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 16.0% of households in Chester earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 16.0% of households in Chester earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 11.1% of households in Chester earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 8.3% of households in Chester earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 3.5% of households in Chester earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 2.4% of households in Chester earn $200,000 or more.

Income Chester PA USA
Less than $10,000 9.9% 4.9% 5.0%
$10,000 to $14,999 8.2% 3.5% 3.4%
$15,000 to $24,999 14.1% 6.7% 6.3%
$25,000 to $34,999 10.5% 6.9% 6.6%
$35,000 to $49,999 16.0% 10.5% 10.1%
$50,000 to $74,999 16.0% 15.9% 15.5%
$75,000 to $99,999 11.1% 12.8% 12.6%
$100,000 to $149,999 8.3% 17.7% 17.5%
$150,000 to $199,999 3.5% 9.3% 9.6%
$200,000 or more 2.4% 11.8% 13.4%

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (2024)