Town · Connecticut
Chester, Connecticut
Chester, town, in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. Chester had 3,726 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,749 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,825 (±337). GEOID 0913014300.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,726
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,749 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,825 ±337
Median household income
$109,191
±$18,195 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$442,200
±$25,213 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$1,549
±$247 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
Where is Chester and what county is it in?
Chester is a town in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. It covers 16.1 square miles of land, 234 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Chester: Chester Center (CDP, 1,720 in 2020).
Chester is in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Chester is the same area as Census Tract 6001 of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region: the tract's figures are Chester's own.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Chester, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,726 people lived in Chester on July 1, 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, while Connecticut grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 3,749 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,825 (±337).
| Measure | Chester | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,825±337 | 175,822 | – |
| Households | 1,628±168 | 74,068 | – |
| Average household size | 2.27±0.23 | 2.28 | – |
| Housing units | 1,715±157 | 82,963 | – |
Chester's population since 2000
From 3,743 in 2000 to 3,726 in 2025: down 0.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Chester as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Chester?
The median resident of Chester is 54.0 years old; 17.5% are under 18 and 26.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.7%. 5.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Chester | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.0±3.4 | 45.9 | – |
| Under 18 years | 17.5%±3.5 pts | 16.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 26.8%±4.2 pts | 22.2% | – |
| Male | 54.6%±5.0 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.7%±4.7 pts | 7.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.8%±5.3 pts | 79.2% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.6%±1.7 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 3.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.5%±2.7 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.9%±2.7 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.9%±3.8 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.3%±2.4 pts | 5.8% | – |
| With a disability | 14.5%±4.1 pts | 11.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.5%±2.2 pts | 3.3% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.7%±1.7 pts | 95.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 47.9%±5.9 pts | 46.0% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 25.5%±4.4 pts | 20.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.8%±2.3 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2%±1.2 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Chester earn?
Half of Chester's 1,628 households earn less than $109,191 a year (±$18,195), against $104,428 in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region and $95,781 in Connecticut. 11.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Chester | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $109,191±$18,195 | $104,428 | – |
| Mean household income | $142,233±$21,039 | $138,522 | – |
| Per capita income | $61,245±$8,958 | $59,075 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 11.8%±5.7 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 27.5%±21.0 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.2%±4.4 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.7%±2.4 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.3%±2.4 pts | 92.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Chester?
Owners occupy 73.2% of Chester's occupied homes and renters 26.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $442,200 by its owner (±$25,213). The median renter pays $1,549 a month including utilities, and 48.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Chester | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $442,200±$25,213 | $379,700 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,549±$247 | $1,454 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 48.9%±17.7 pts | 40.7% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,672±$322 | $2,411 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.2%±5.6 pts | 75.8% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 26.8%±5.6 pts | 24.2% | – |
| Housing units | 1,715±157 | 82,963 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±3.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±9.3 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.1%±5.7 pts | 72.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±2.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4%±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.2%±1.8 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 29.0%±7.3 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.2%±4.1 pts | 5.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Chester building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units in Chester in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 1.3 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Connecticut.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Chester work and get to work?
75.0% of Chester's workers drive alone and 18.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.8%.
| Measure | Chester | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.2%±5.3 pts | 65.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8%±2.5 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 75.0%±7.3 pts | 71.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.1%±2.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.7%±2.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.6%±0.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.3%±5.5 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.3 min±4.8 | 26.0 min | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Chester?
1 census tract lies mostly in Chester (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6001Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 3,825 | $109,191 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Chester) · Census block assignment files
How does Chester compare with other places in Connecticut?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Chester is the 2,976th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 115th-most populous of 142 in Connecticut.
Chester ranks 145th of 294 places in Connecticut with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 115th | 142 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 163rd | 167 |
| Residents per square mile | 255th | 303 |
| Median household income | 145th | 294 |
| Per capita income | 110th | 303 |
| Median home value | 97th | 300 |
| Median gross rent | 118th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 40th | 202 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 134th | 297 |
| Median age | 28th | 301 |
| Owner-occupied share | 194th | 300 |
| Work from home | 126th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 133rd | 302 |
Chester's figures with every place in Connecticut (CSV)
Every place in Connecticut, sortable · Compare Chester with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Chester?
17 of the 57 figures for Chester on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Chester are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.