The Town FilesChester, Michigan
Township in Ottawa County · population 2,096 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $276,100
- Household income
- $79,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 36.3
Chester is a township of 2,096 people in Ottawa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $276,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 88% of Michigan towns, easier by car 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 $276,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $79,875, which is more affordable than 19% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $983 a month. 83.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $276,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $983 | $955 |
| Median household income | $79,875 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Chester
| People | Chester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Chester
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 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. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 9.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 143 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 22, 1961.
Severe weather in Ottawa County since 1996
Ottawa County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Ottawa County
Ottawa County had 131,885 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,813 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Chester itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Towns near Chester
- Ravenna, MI5.1 mi · 1,308 people · home $204,300
- Casnovia, MI5.2 mi · 2,793 people · home $229,800
- Sparta, MI6.0 mi · 9,395 people · home $231,600
- Wright, MI6.1 mi · 3,190 people · home $321,000
- Ravenna, MI6.1 mi · 2,962 people · home $224,100
- Kent City, MI6.2 mi · 1,262 people · home $167,200
- Sparta, MI6.8 mi · 4,244 people · home $215,400
- Alpine, MI8.0 mi · 14,079 people · home $233,900
Chester questions
Is Chester, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chester scores better for retirees than 38% of Michigan towns and quieter than 46%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Chester?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester is valued at $276,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,875, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $983 a month.
What is the weather like in Chester?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.0 inches of snow.
Does Chester get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)