City · Illinois
Chester, Illinois
Chester, city, in Randolph County, Illinois. Chester had 6,847 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,814 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,797 (±30). GEOID 1713139.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,847
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,814 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,797 ±30
Median household income
$80,625
±$15,642 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$111,700
±$9,496 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$760
±$239 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Chester and what county is it in?
Chester is a city in Randolph County, Illinois. It covers 5.8 square miles of land, 1,181 residents per square mile in 2020.
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 6,847 people lived in Chester on July 1, 2025, up 0.2% since 2020, while Illinois shrank 0.8%. The 2020 Census counted 6,814 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,797 (±30).
| Measure | Chester | Randolph County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,797 ±30 | 30,058 | −1,546 |
| Households | 1,827 ±123 | 11,945 | −345 |
| Average household size | 2.16 ±0.13 | 2.25 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,122 ±144 | 13,422 | −464 |
Chester's population since 2000
From 5,185 in 2000 to 6,847 in 2025: up 32.1%. 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 43.5 years old; 12.3% are under 18 and 15.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 68.1%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 27.4%.
| Measure | Chester | Randolph County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 ±2.0 | 43.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 12.3% ±1.9 pts | 20.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.0% ±2.5 pts | 21.3% | – |
| Male | 68.0% ±2.8 pts | 53.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.3% ±1.3 pts | 3.8% | −2.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 68.1% ±2.4 pts | 85.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 27.4% ±2.2 pts | 8.2% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.0% ±0.7 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.8% ±0.9 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.7% ±1.8 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 27.9% ±4.1 pts | 22.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.0% ±4.0 pts | 5.3% | +5.0 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 74.5% ±3.9 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 10.2% ±2.5 pts | 15.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.9% ±1.5 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 82.7% ±4.9 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
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 1,827 households earn less than $80,625 a year (±$15,642), against $68,131 in Randolph County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 the median was $58,932 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $21,693 after inflation. 21.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Chester | Randolph County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $80,625 ±$15,642 | $68,131 | +$21,693 |
| Mean household income | $91,292 ±$13,114 | $82,525 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,444 ±$4,034 | $32,715 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 21.7% ±5.2 pts | 14.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.9% ±12.9 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.4% ±4.2 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.9% ±4.0 pts | 91.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.6% ±4.5 pts | 86.9% | – |
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 74.0% of Chester's occupied homes and renters 26.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $111,700 by its owner (±$9,496). The median renter pays $760 a month including utilities, and 30.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Chester | Randolph County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $111,700 ±$9,496 | $135,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $760 ±$239 | $780 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.3% ±16.0 pts | 32.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,096 ±$152 | $1,308 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.0% ±7.5 pts | 76.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 26.0% ±7.5 pts | 23.4% | – |
| Housing units | 2,122 ±144 | 13,422 | −464 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.0% ±3.4 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.9% ±2.9 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 85.7% ±5.2 pts | 74.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.7% ±3.1 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.0% ±1.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 28.3% ±6.2 pts | 18.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.0% ±4.6 pts | 6.7% | – |
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 0 new housing units in Chester in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 1.5 across Illinois.
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?
85.1% of Chester's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 20.0 minutes.
| Measure | Chester | Randolph County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 35.1% ±3.1 pts | 53.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% ±3.5 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 85.1% ±5.2 pts | 81.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.9% ±2.6 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 4.6% ±4.8 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.0% ±1.7 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.0 min ±4.2 | 23.1 min | no clear change |
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?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Chester, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $73,438 (Tract 9512.01) to $77,589 (Tract 9513).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9513Randolph County | 2,615 | $77,589 |
| Tract 9512.01Randolph County | 1,814 | $73,438 |
| Tract 9512.02Randolph County | 3,314 | $111,397 |
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 Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Chester is the 4,122nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 285th-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.
Chester ranks 637th of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 285th | 1,294 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 248th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 550th | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 637th | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 1,341st | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 1,082nd | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 1,071st | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 94th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,325th | 1,369 |
| Median age | 426th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 876th | 1,382 |
| Travel time to work | 1,150th | 1,382 |
Chester's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, 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' public schools in Chester.