The Town FilesChester, Michigan
Township in Otsego County · population 1,300 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,700
- Household income
- $73,707
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 149 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 45.6
Chester is a township of 1,300 people in Otsego County, Michigan. The median home is worth $213,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 87% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 85% of Michigan towns, quieter than 84% 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 $213,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $73,707, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,188 a month. 90.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,188 | $955 |
| Median household income | $73,707 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.4% | — |
Who lives in Chester
| People | Chester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Chester
July highs average 77.8°F and January lows 11.5°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 148.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 20, 2022 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 44 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 25, 2023.
Severe weather in Otsego County since 1996
Otsego County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 27, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3137: Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
Jobs and pay in Otsego County
Otsego County had 10,703 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,154 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Chester itself the ACS puts it at 10%.
Towns near Chester
- Bagley, MI6.1 mi · 5,867 people · home $234,300
- Charlton, MI6.3 mi · 1,350 people · home $214,500
- Otsego Lake, MI6.6 mi · 2,857 people · home $218,400
- Gaylord, MI8.8 mi · 4,286 people · home $192,800
- Dover, MI9.0 mi · 632 people · home $250,000
- Maple Forest, MI10.5 mi · 598 people · home $172,700
- Lovells, MI10.9 mi · 567 people · home $204,300
- Livingston, MI11.6 mi · 2,652 people · home $220,200
Chester questions
Is Chester, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chester scores better for retirees than 85% of Michigan towns and quieter than 84%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Chester?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester is valued at $213,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,707, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,188 a month.
What is the weather like in Chester?
July highs average 77.8°F and January lows 11.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 148.8 inches of snow.
Does Chester get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 20, 2022. 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)