The Town FilesChester, Pennsylvania
Township in Delaware County · population 4,080 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,900
- Household income
- $58,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 26.8
Chester is a township of 4,080 people in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $158,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Chester ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chester is worth $158,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $58,125, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,268 a month. 55.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chester | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,268 | $996 |
| Median household income | $58,125 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chester
| People | Chester | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Chester
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 26.8°F. About 41.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 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 Pennsylvania town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 31, 2019 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 10, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Delaware County since 1996
Delaware County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Delaware County
Delaware County had 218,536 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,172 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Chester itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Chester
1 public school with 684 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chester Charter Scholars Academy CS (charter) | K-12 | 684 | 14.3 |
Towns near Chester
- Upland, PA1.2 mi · 3,068 people · home $184,700
- Brookhaven, PA1.5 mi · 8,300 people · home $284,700
- Chester, PA1.5 mi · 32,605 people · home $83,100
- Village Green-Green Ridge, PA1.6 mi · 8,000 people · home $325,800
- Linwood, PA2.2 mi · 3,949 people · home $151,400
- Upper Chichester, PA2.2 mi · 16,898 people · home $289,700
- Aston, PA2.4 mi · 16,791 people · home $343,000
- Boothwyn, PA2.6 mi · 4,968 people · home $272,800
Chester questions
Is Chester, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chester scores better for retirees than 2% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 2%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.8).
How much does a house cost in Chester?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester is valued at $158,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,125, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,268 a month.
What is the weather like in Chester?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 26.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 23.1 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 EF2 on October 31, 2019. The typical Pennsylvania 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)