The Town FilesChester, Georgia
Town in Dodge County · population 525 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $82,500
- Household income
- $56,048
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 35.4
Chester is a town of 525 people in Dodge County, Georgia. The median home is worth $82,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Georgia towns, quieter than 89% of Georgia towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of Georgia towns.
How Chester ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chester is worth $82,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $56,048, which is more affordable than 98% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $386 a month. 59.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chester | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $82,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $386 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $56,048 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 59.0% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chester
| People | Chester | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.1% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 7.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.3% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 37.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Chester
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 38.4°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 5, 2011 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on October 25, 2010.
Severe weather in Dodge County since 1996
Dodge County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Dodge County
Dodge County had 4,956 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,731 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Chester itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Chester
- Dexter, GA6.2 mi · 655 people · home —
- Dudley, GA10.5 mi · 593 people · home $190,600
- Cochran, GA11.4 mi · 5,026 people · home $112,800
- Eastman, GA13.6 mi · 5,658 people · home $129,800
- Dublin, GA16.4 mi · 16,074 people · home $181,300
- East Dublin, GA19.9 mi · 2,492 people · home $153,000
- Hawkinsville, GA19.9 mi · 3,980 people · home $159,100
- Jeffersonville, GA22.9 mi · 977 people · home $114,600
Chester questions
Is Chester, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chester scores better for retirees than 66% of Georgia towns and quieter than 89%. 7.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Chester?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester is valued at $82,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,048, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $386 a month.
What is the weather like in Chester?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 38.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Chester get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 5, 2011. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)