The Town FilesChester, South Carolina
City in Chester County · population 5,269 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,000
- Household income
- $46,138
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 38.8
Chester is a city of 5,269 people in Chester County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $123,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more walkable than 97% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 82% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 81% of South Carolina towns.
How Chester ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chester is worth $123,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $46,138, which is more affordable than 77% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $902 a month. 59.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chester | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $902 | $937 |
| Median household income | $46,138 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 59.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chester
| People | Chester | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.4% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Chester
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.8°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 82 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 16, 2011 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 5, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 16, 2009.
Severe weather in Chester County since 1996
Chester County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Chester County
Chester County had 10,409 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,462 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Chester itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Public schools in Chester
7 public schools with 2,559 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chester Senior High | 9-12 | 741 | 15.8 |
| Chester Middle | 6-8 | 468 | 14.6 |
| Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry | PK-5 | 382 | 13.2 |
| Chester Park Elementary School for the Arts | PK-5 | 344 | 12.3 |
| Academy for Teaching and Learning (charter) | K-8 | 319 | 12.8 |
| Chester Park Elementary School of Literacy and Technology | PK-5 | 305 | 12.7 |
| Chester County Career Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Chester
- Lesslie, SC19.3 mi · 3,068 people · home $258,400
- Rock Hill, SC19.4 mi · 74,372 people · home $295,100
- York, SC20.2 mi · 8,503 people · home $198,600
- Newport, SC21.5 mi · 4,744 people · home $342,000
- Union, SC23.7 mi · 8,174 people · home $109,400
- India Hook, SC23.8 mi · 3,817 people · home $348,300
- Winnsboro, SC23.9 mi · 3,215 people · home $132,400
- Lancaster, SC24.4 mi · 8,460 people · home $239,100
Chester questions
Is Chester, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chester scores better for retirees than 20% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 39%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Chester?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester is valued at $123,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,138, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $902 a month.
What is the weather like in Chester?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Chester get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 16, 2011. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- 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)