City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Chester, NY

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.

4,052
Residents
$97,250
Median income
$280,600
Median home
$1,979
Median rent (state)

Chester - the verdict

Nationally, Chester sits in the 76th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

76th
percentile, household income
62nd
percentile, home value
83rd
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, NY

4,052 people live in Chester, New York - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Chester brings in $97,250 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 6.9%. Home values in Chester run a median of $280,600, and the median resident age is 36.5 years. Educational attainment runs 32.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 71.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier.

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New York scores 107.9 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,979 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New York's average monthly utility costs around $285 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 90.6 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

4,052 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$97,250 /yr

Poverty 6.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York average

How does Chester compare to other US cities?

Chester measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 76% higher than other cities
Home value 62% pricier than other cities
Median rent 83% 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 New York only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New York-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of New York's city distribution

Among the 1,246 New York cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Chester ranks #456 - the 63rd 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
#462 of 1,205
62nd percentile in New York
Median Gross Rent
#401 of 1,256
62nd percentile in New York
Median Home Value
#520 of 1,202
57th percentile in New York
Poverty Rate
#456 of 1,246
63rd percentile in New York
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#638 of 1,254
49th percentile in New York

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 New York only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

76thIncome percentile

76th 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+)

$280,600 38th percentile more affordable than 38% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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, NY Chester, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Chester, NY-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, NY median $97,250/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, NY'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, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 71.1%

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

Population
4,052
Median Income
$97,250
Median Home Value
$280,600
Median Age
36.5
Poverty Rate
6.9%
Labor force participation
71.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.3%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,950 residents4,000 residents4,050 residents4,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,083 residents 3,991 residents ▼ -2.3%
Chester's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 5
2020 0
2021 0
2022 1
2023 6
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.6%
Carpool
3.9%
Public Transit
14.0%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
3.8%

Based on 2,406 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New York - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$65
avg/month
Total Utilities
$285
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New York 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 New York 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
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,979/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Hamilton
4,038 people
Montauk
4,073 people
Garden City South
4,077 people
Herricks
4,077 people
Bardonia
4,022 people
Cayuga Heights
4,018 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Chester's 4,052 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Holloman AFB, NM
4,052 people
Tierra Verde, FL
4,051 people
Candelaria Arenas comunidad, PR
4,054 people
Monticello, IA
4,055 people
Lathrup, MI
4,049 people
Santa Rita Ranch, TX
4,055 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Chester's $97,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

South Deerfield, MA
$97,250 median income
Dekorra, WI
$97,250 median income
Lombard, IL
$97,253 median income
Miami Lakes, FL
$97,255 median income
Pima, AZ
$97,238 median income
Woodridge, IL
$97,263 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Chester, NY 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, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 57.4% 15.3% 18.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 37.1% White 57.4% Black or African American 3.6% Asian 5.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 15.3% Two or more races 18.6% 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 New York 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) 4,052 $97,250
Hamilton 4,038 $62,000
Montauk 4,073 $129,375
Garden City South 4,077 $150,688
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Chester, NY?

What is the population of Chester, NY? +

The population of Chester, NY stands at 4,052 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Chester is $97,250 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 New York state average, a cost of living index of 107.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New York vary by metro area.

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

The median home value in Chester is $280,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.