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Living in
Chester.
About
Life in Chester
Chester offers genuine affordability in the Philadelphia metro area—median home values hover around $83,100 and rent averages $1,091 monthly, well below regional norms. You're looking at roughly a 22-minute commute to employment centers in Philadelphia, and Interstate 95 runs directly through the city, making regional access straightforward. The humid subtropical climate means hot, sticky summers and mild winters, so plan for air conditioning and prepare for the seasonal heat and humidity that comes with Delaware Valley geography.
Chester at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
29.0%
Foreign-Born
5.1%
Broadband Internet
88.6%
of households
Population Growth
+3.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.1% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in Chester: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Chester, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (22.1%), and 7.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.5%
of residents
65 and Older
15.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.8%
of households
Married Couples
14.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 10% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Chester
In Chester, rent runs 10% below the PA average, and home values are 67% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
33.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,675
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
40.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1949
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.0%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.4 pts above PA average
Unemployment in Chester and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Chester is 2.4 percentage points higher than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Chester Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area
Commute22.9 min avg
How Chester residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Chester, most residents drive alone to work (58%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Major hub14.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 50% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Chester runs 50% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
494.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,793.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Chester Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Delaware County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Delaware County, which includes Chester, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Winter Weather | $150,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Coastal Flood | None reported |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300,000 |
| 2022 | 20 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30.0M |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 18 | Flash Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Delaware County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Delaware County, which includes Chester, is typically good — 238 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
238
per year
Moderate Days
124
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Delaware County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Chester has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.7"
Annual Snowfall
23.1"
Hot Days/Year
27
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
64
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
102
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 27°F | 3.15" |
| Feb | 46°F | 28°F | 2.22" |
| Mar | 53°F | 35°F | 3.93" |
| Apr | 66°F | 45°F | 3.48" |
| May | 75°F | 55°F | 3.16" |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 3.31" |
| Jul | 89°F | 70°F | 4.81" |
| Aug | 87°F | 69°F | 3.68" |
| Sep | 80°F | 61°F | 4.36" |
| Oct | 68°F | 50°F | 3.69" |
| Nov | 57°F | 40°F | 2.61" |
| Dec | 48°F | 32°F | 3.25" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Chester
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Chester's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Crozer Chester Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 0.8 mi away · Upland
Riddle Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Media
Mercy Catholic Medical Center- Mercy Fitzgerald
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Darby
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Chester
Chester's student/teacher ratio is 18.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 14.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Chester
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,951 students · in-state tuition $58,280 · 66% graduate · median earnings $76,782 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 20,970 students · in-state tuition $23,824 · 75% graduate · median earnings $71,027 (10 yrs after entry)
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
14.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 14,164 students · in-state tuition $11,464 · 73% graduate · median earnings $66,629 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 13,233 students · in-state tuition $64,212 · 74% graduate · median earnings $92,338 (10 yrs after entry)
Community College of Philadelphia
13.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 11,948 students · in-state tuition $4,692 · 19% graduate · median earnings $44,885 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,650 students · in-state tuition $71,236 · 97% graduate · median earnings $121,687 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
12.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 4,948 students · in-state tuition $55,380 · 78% graduate · median earnings $85,980 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: First State National Historical Park, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Chester
Chester has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being First State National Historical Park (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
First State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayEdgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
National Historic Site
14 mi awayGloria Dei Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
14 mi awayIndependence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
14 mi awayThaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
14 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayWashington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
32 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
33 mi awayPublic Libraries in Chester
J. Lewis Crozer Library
620 Engle St, Chester
Cities Near Chester
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Chester?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Chester FAQ
Is Chester, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Chester's median rent is $1,091/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $41,342/year. Median home value is $83,100.
Is Chester, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Chester's violent crime rate was 494 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1794 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Chester, Pennsylvania?⌄
Chester has an unemployment rate of 6.7%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Chester, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Chester is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,091/month and median household income is $41,342/year. The median home value is $83,100. About 63% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Chester, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Chester is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from