The Town FilesChester, Michigan
Township in Eaton County · population 1,769 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,800
- Household income
- $74,342
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 48.1
Chester is a township of 1,769 people in Eaton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $225,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 88% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 82% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 81% of Michigan towns.
How Chester ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chester is worth $225,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $74,342, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,048 a month. 93.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,048 | $955 |
| Median household income | $74,342 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Chester
| People | Chester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Chester
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 24, 2007 about 5.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 23, 2004.
Severe weather in Eaton County since 1996
Eaton County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Eaton County
Eaton County had 44,501 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,862 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Chester itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near Chester
- Vermontville, MI5.7 mi · 1,947 people · home $176,500
- Charlotte, MI6.1 mi · 9,299 people · home $153,900
- Carmel, MI6.1 mi · 2,839 people · home $221,800
- Benton, MI6.1 mi · 2,766 people · home $275,000
- Vermontville, MI6.1 mi · 716 people · home $138,500
- Roxand, MI6.5 mi · 1,748 people · home $179,400
- Kalamo, MI7.9 mi · 1,765 people · home $233,400
- Oneida, MI8.0 mi · 3,986 people · home $261,000
Chester questions
Is Chester, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chester scores better for retirees than 82% of Michigan towns and quieter than 78%. 26.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.1).
How much does a house cost in Chester?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester is valued at $225,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,342, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,048 a month.
What is the weather like in Chester?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 38.1 inches of snow.
Does Chester get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 24, 2007. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)