City · South Carolina
Chester, South Carolina
Chester, city, in Chester County, South Carolina. Chester had 5,324 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,269 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,218 (±42). GEOID 4514095.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,324
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,269 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,218 ±42
Median household income
$46,138
±$6,703 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$123,000
±$34,447 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$902
±$102 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
Where is Chester and what county is it in?
Chester is a city in Chester County, South Carolina. It covers 3.3 square miles of land, 1,595 residents per square mile in 2020.
Chester is in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 11 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
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 5,324 people lived in Chester on July 1, 2025, up 0.9% since 2020, slower than South Carolina (+8.8%). The 2020 Census counted 5,269 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,218 (±42).
| Measure | Chester | Chester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,218 ±42 | 32,182 | −190 |
| Households | 2,115 ±251 | 13,159 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.45 ±0.29 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,462 ±295 | 14,807 | no clear change |
Chester's population since 2000
From 6,476 in 2000 to 5,324 in 2025: down 17.8%. 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 38.8 years old; 24.7% are under 18 and 15.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 62.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 31.6%.
| Measure | Chester | Chester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 ±7.7 | 42.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.7% ±5.1 pts | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.4% ±4.6 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Male | 51.7% ±4.3 pts | 48.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.4% ±2.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 31.6% ±9.0 pts | 57.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 62.3% ±8.9 pts | 34.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±1.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±2.1 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.5% ±1.7 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.0% ±3.5 pts | 8.4% | – |
| With a disability | 13.3% ±4.5 pts | 14.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 17.5% ±8.1 pts | 11.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 81.9% ±5.4 pts | 85.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 14.0% ±5.1 pts | 14.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 2.2% ±1.2 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.6% ±6.9 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±1.0 pts | 1.5% | – |
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 2,115 households earn less than $46,138 a year (±$6,703), against $52,458 in Chester County and $69,324 in South Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $32,404 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $13,734 after inflation. 19.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Chester | Chester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $46,138 ±$6,703 | $52,458 | +$13,734 |
| Mean household income | $54,986 ±$7,582 | $68,310 | – |
| Per capita income | $22,647 ±$3,221 | $28,227 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 19.4% ±7.0 pts | 18.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 26.8% ±15.9 pts | 25.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.3% ±7.1 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 87.0% ±5.5 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.6% ±5.9 pts | 83.0% | – |
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 59.1% of Chester's occupied homes and renters 40.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $123,000 by its owner (±$34,447). The median renter pays $902 a month including utilities, and 42.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Chester | Chester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $123,000 ±$34,447 | $158,300 | +$40,420 |
| Median gross rent | $902 ±$102 | $853 | +$188 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.3% ±14.1 pts | 39.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,162 ±$108 | $1,156 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.1% ±9.4 pts | 78.4% | +11.5 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.9% ±9.4 pts | 21.6% | – |
| Housing units | 2,462 ±295 | 14,807 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.3% ±3.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.4% ±5.7 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.6% ±6.8 pts | 71.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.0% ±4.2 pts | 23.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2% ±1.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.9% ±3.4 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.1% ±5.6 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.2% ±5.0 pts | 6.3% | – |
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 do people in Chester work and get to work?
85.3% of Chester's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 28.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.6%.
| Measure | Chester | Chester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.5% ±6.5 pts | 58.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.6% ±4.2 pts | 5.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 85.3% ±6.2 pts | 84.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.4% ±5.8 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 1.7% ±2.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 1.6% ±1.9 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.3 min ±3.2 | 31.6 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?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Chester, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $36,161 (Tract 203) to $49,966 (Tract 202).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 203Chester County | 3,396 | $36,161 |
| Tract 202Chester County | 3,045 | $49,966 |
| Tract 201Chester County | 2,043 | $41,667 |
| Tract 206.01Chester County | 2,350 | $54,440 |
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 South Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Chester is the 4,722nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 65th-most populous of 271 in South Carolina.
Chester ranks 173rd of 248 places in South Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 65th | 271 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 101st | 149 |
| Residents per square mile | 51st | 261 |
| Median household income | 173rd | 248 |
| Per capita income | 207th | 259 |
| Median home value | 195th | 248 |
| Median gross rent | 144th | 235 |
| Poverty rate | 117th | 214 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 191st | 226 |
| Median age | 139th | 261 |
| Owner-occupied share | 169th | 258 |
| Travel time to work | 59th | 261 |
Chester's figures with every place in South Carolina (CSV)
Every place in South Carolina, 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?
16 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.