The Town FilesChester, New Jersey
Township in Morris County · population 7,713 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $790,900
- Household income
- $241,856
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 46.8
Chester is a township of 7,713 people in Morris County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $790,900, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for families than 99% of New Jersey towns, more upscale than 96% of New Jersey towns, better for retirees than 83% of New Jersey towns.
How Chester ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chester is worth $790,900, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $241,856, which is more affordable than 70% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,787 a month. 96.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chester | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $790,900 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,787 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $241,856 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.4% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chester
| People | Chester | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70.1% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.0% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.3% | — |
| Work from home | 27.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.9% | 94.6% |
Weather in Chester
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.6 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 28, 1973 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 7, 2013.
Severe weather in Morris County since 1996
Morris County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Morris County
Morris County had 298,824 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $101,208 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Chester itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Public schools in Chester
1 public school with 324 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bragg Elementary School | 3-5 | 324 | 8.5 |
Towns near Chester
- Peapack and Gladstone, NJ4.5 mi · 2,558 people · home $868,800
- Mendham, NJ4.7 mi · 4,981 people · home $819,800
- Flanders, NJ4.8 mi · 9,832 people · home $552,900
- Succasunna, NJ5.6 mi · 10,338 people · home $529,100
- Washington, NJ5.8 mi · 18,197 people · home $592,600
- Bernardsville, NJ5.9 mi · 7,893 people · home $793,800
- Mendham, NJ6.3 mi · 6,016 people · home $1,070,400
- Mount Olive, NJ6.8 mi · 28,886 people · home $487,100
Chester questions
Is Chester, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chester scores better for retirees than 83% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 77%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Chester?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester is valued at $790,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $241,856, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $2,787 a month.
What is the weather like in Chester?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 29.6 inches of snow.
Does Chester get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 28, 1973. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)