City profile · Georgia · Census ACS 2023

Chester, GA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Chester - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,708
Residents
$47,500
Median income
$78,300
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Chester - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Chester places in the 16th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

16th
percentile, household income
3rd
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Chester, GA

1,708 people live in Chester, Georgia - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Chester brings in $47,500 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 35.5%. Home values in Chester run a median of $78,300, and the median resident age is 37.6 years. Educational attainment runs 6.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 14.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Chester (Low Activity), per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Georgia run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Georgia at 96.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Georgia's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 25.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

1,708 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Georgia

Median Household Income

$47,500 /yr

Poverty 35.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Georgia average

How does Chester compare to other US cities?

Where Chester sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 16% higher than other cities
Home value 3% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Chester against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Georgia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Georgia-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Chester near the bottom of Georgia's cities

Among the 638 Georgia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Chester ranks #428 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Chester only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#379 of 610
38th percentile in Georgia
Median Gross Rent
#428 of 638
0th percentile in Georgia
Median Home Value
#514 of 577
11th percentile in Georgia
Poverty Rate
#39 of 637
94th percentile in Georgia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#566 of 638
11th percentile in Georgia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Georgia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

16thIncome percentile

16th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Chester's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$78,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 97% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Chester $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Chester, GA Chester, GA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Chester, GA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Chester, GA median $47,500/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Chester, GA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Chester, GA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 35.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 14.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,708
Median Income
$47,500
Median Home Value
$78,300
Median Age
37.6
Poverty Rate
35.5%
Labor force participation
14.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.0%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,350 residents1,400 residents1,450 residents1,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,461 residents 1,476 residents ▲ +1.0%
Chester's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 1
2022 0
2023 0
2024 2

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
88.3%
Carpool
11.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 231 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Georgia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$125
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Georgia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Georgia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Chester sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
25.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Georgia

Arcade
1,705 people
Zebulon
1,711 people
Berry College
1,712 people
Emerson
1,716 people
Ellaville
1,698 people
Lincolnton
1,695 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Chester's 1,708 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Heritage Lake, IL
1,708 people
Meridian Hills, IN
1,708 people
Horton, KS
1,708 people
Shelby, MS
1,709 people
Duenweg, MO
1,707 people
Hagerstown, IN
1,710 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Chester's $47,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Andalusia, AL
$47,500 median income
Elkmont, AL
$47,500 median income
Alpena, AR
$47,500 median income
Portland, AR
$47,500 median income
Beecher City, IL
$47,500 median income
Dahlgren, IL
$47,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Chester, GA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Chester, GA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 38.1% 52.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.8% White 38.1% Black or African American 52.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.9% Two or more races 2.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Chester compares to nearby Georgia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Chester (this city) 1,708 $47,500
Arcade 1,705 $58,750
Zebulon 1,711 $47,917
Berry College 1,712 N/A
Census ACS 5-year FIPS GA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Chester, GA?

What is the population of Chester, GA? +

1,708 people live in Chester, GA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Chester, GA? +

In Chester, the typical household earns $47,500 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Chester? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Chester; the closest available measure is the Georgia state average, a cost of living index of 96.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Georgia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Chester, GA? +

Chester's median home value sits at $78,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.