County · South Carolina

Chester County, South Carolina

Chester County, South Carolina. Chester County had 33,001 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.2% since 2020, slower than South Carolina (+8.8%). It holds 7 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 11 census tracts. GEOID 45023.

Chester County is one of the 11 counties of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

33,001

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 32,294 · ACS 2020-2024: 32,182

Median household income

$52,458

±$3,357 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324

Median home value

$158,300

±$10,602 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000

Median gross rent

$853

±$66 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180

How many people live in Chester County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 32,294 residents in Chester County. The Census Bureau estimates 33,001 for July 1, 2025, up 2.2% since 2020, slower than South Carolina (+8.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 32,182 over 581 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −118 (32,169)
2021→2022 −183 (31,986)
2022→2023 +241 (32,227)
2023→2024 +320 (32,547)
2024→2025 +454 (33,001)

Chester County in South Carolina. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Chester County	South Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	32,182	5,296,225	−129
Households	13,159±265	2,117,989	+506
Average household size	2.43±0.05	2.44	−0.11
Housing units	14,807±46	2,443,039	no clear change

Chester County's population since 2000

From 34,068 in 2000 to 33,001 in 2025: down 3.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 34,068
2005 (estimate) 33,373
2010 Census 33,140
2015 (estimate) 32,420
2020 Census 32,294
2025 (estimate) 33,001

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Chester County?

Chester County holds 7 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Chester with 5,324 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Chester County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Chester	city	5,269	5,218±42	$46,138	$123,000	19.4%	100%
Great Falls	town	1,951	1,690±339	$30,458	$60,400	31.1%	100%
Eureka Mill	CDP	1,420	1,813±529	$36,486	$180,300	40.5%	100%
Fort Lawn	town	962	1,388±402	$60,288	$185,300	13.2%	100%
Gayle MillGEOID 4528825	CDP	866	974±487	$41,274	$31,200	27.4%	100%
RichburgGEOID 4559920	town	280	397±169	not published	$179,800	41.8%	100%
LowrysGEOID 4542865	town	184	303±117	$80,781	$197,500	8.9%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Chester County?

The median resident of Chester County is 42.4 years old; 22.3% are under 18 and 19.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 57.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 34.5%. 1.3% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Chester County	South Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	42.4±0.4	40.2	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.3%±0.2 pts	21.4%	–
65 years and over	19.2%±0.2 pts	18.9%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3.0%	7.4%	+1.0 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	57.7%±0.4 pts	61.9%	−1.0 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	34.5%±1.1 pts	24.6%	−2.5 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	1.7%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.2%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.9%±1.1 pts	3.7%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	1.3%±0.5 pts	5.8%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.2%±0.9 pts	8.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.4%±1.1 pts	8.3%	–
With a disability	14.2%±1.4 pts	14.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	11.7%±2.0 pts	9.6%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	85.3%±1.7 pts	90.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	14.0%±1.8 pts	32.1%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.4%±0.9 pts	12.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.5%±0.7 pts	3.7%	–

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 County earn?

Half of Chester County's 13,159 households earn less than $52,458 a year (±$3,357), against $69,324 in South Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $52,233 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Chester County	South Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$52,458±$3,357	$69,324	no clear change
Mean household income	$68,310±$4,190	$95,567	–
Per capita income	$28,227±$1,617	$39,236	no clear change
People below the poverty line	18.7%±2.6 pts	14.1%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	25.6%±6.0 pts	19.4%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	16.7%±2.6 pts	10.5%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	83.0%±2.0 pts	88.8%	–

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 County?

Owners occupy 78.4% of Chester County's occupied homes and renters 21.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $158,300 by its owner (±$10,602). The median renter pays $853 a month including utilities, and 39.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Chester County	South Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$158,300±$10,602	$259,000	+$40,646
Median gross rent	$853±$66	$1,180	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	39.1%±7.3 pts	42.8%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,156±$42	$1,529	–
Owner-occupied homes	78.4%±2.5 pts	71.9%	no clear change
Housing units	14,807±46	2,443,039	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.0%±1.0 pts	0.9%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.0%±2.5 pts	8.3%	–
Single-family detached homes	71.7%±2.8 pts	64.5%	–
Mobile homes	23.6%±2.7 pts	14.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.6%±0.7 pts	3.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	9.3%±1.7 pts	3.6%	–

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 County building?

Builders took permits for 310 new housing units across Chester County in 2025 (310 single-family), 9.4 per 1,000 residents.

2019 65 units
2020 82 units
2021 78 units
2022 114 units
2023 164 units
2024 269 units
2025 310 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Chester County get to work?

84.4% of Chester County's workers drive alone and 5.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.6%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Chester County	South Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	58.4%±2.3 pts	60.5%	–
Unemployment rate	5.6%±1.5 pts	4.9%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	84.4%±2.5 pts	76.3%	–
Carpooled	7.9%±1.9 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.3 pts	0.4%	–
Walked	0.4%±0.5 pts	1.6%	–
Worked from home	5.5%±1.4 pts	11.5%	+3.2 pts
Mean travel time to work	31.6 min±1.8	25.6 min	+4.0 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 are Chester County's census tracts?

Chester County is divided into 11 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $31,382 (Tract 210) to $65,105 (Tract 208).

Census tracts of Chester County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 20145023020100	Chester (51%)	1,812	2,043±415	$41,667	$141,800	$773	24.1%
Tract 20245023020200	Chester (63%)	3,126	3,045±484	$49,966	$98,200	$832	14.0%
Tract 20345023020300	Chester (65%)	3,377	3,396±570	$36,161	$120,600	$799	35.2%
Tract 20445023020400	Lowrys (16%)	2,635	2,855±500	$62,043	$173,900	$840	14.7%
Tract 20545023020500	–	3,138	2,839±401	$53,983	$143,800	$902	21.1%
Tract 206.0145023020601	Chester (4%)	2,467	2,350±432	$54,440	$157,600	$794	10.5%
Tract 206.0245023020602	Eureka Mill (5%)	3,997	3,728±403	$59,889	$192,700	$544	19.7%
Tract 20745023020700	Richburg (12%)	2,006	2,014±354	$53,750	$121,800	$1,398	20.9%
Tract 20845023020800	Fort Lawn (16%)	5,285	5,697±660	$65,105	$201,300	$1,280	9.3%
Tract 20945023020900	–	2,289	2,286±317	$53,697	$180,800	$391	17.6%
Tract 21045023021000	Great Falls (78%)	2,162	1,929±344	$31,382	$65,400	$889	28.6%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Chester County compare with South Carolina's other counties?

Chester County's rank among South Carolina's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	28th of 46
Growth 2020-2025	27th of 46
Residents per square mile	28th of 46
Median household income	28th of 46
Median home value	29th of 46
Median gross rent	29th of 46
Poverty rate	15th of 46
Bachelor's degree or higher	40th of 46
Median age	17th of 46

Every county in South Carolina

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 County 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.