The Town FilesChester, West Virginia
City in Hancock County · population 2,208 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,000
- Household income
- $56,607
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 52.8
Chester is a city of 2,208 people in Hancock County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $112,000, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of West Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of West Virginia towns, quieter than 86% of West Virginia towns.
How Chester ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chester is worth $112,000, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $56,607, which is more affordable than 76% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $647 a month. 75.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chester | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,000 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $647 | $811 |
| Median household income | $56,607 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.4% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chester
| People | Chester | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.8 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Chester
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.3 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 8, 2024 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 14, 2014.
Severe weather in Hancock County since 1996
Hancock County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Hancock County
Hancock County had 9,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,483 a year. Unemployment was 5.8% in 2023; in Chester itself the ACS puts it at 13.7%.
Public schools in Chester
1 public school with 257 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. T. Allison Elementary School | PK-4 | 257 | 9.9 |
Towns near Chester
- East Liverpool, OH1.4 mi · 9,958 people · home $81,300
- Newell, WV1.9 mi · 1,203 people · home $88,100
- La Croft, OH3.0 mi · 1,078 people · home $106,100
- Glenmoor, OH4.4 mi · 1,829 people · home $155,100
- Wellsville, OH4.9 mi · 3,113 people · home $78,600
- Greene, PA5.0 mi · 2,187 people · home $245,300
- Calcutta, OH5.3 mi · 3,941 people · home $158,000
- Midland, PA5.7 mi · 2,433 people · home $90,500
Chester questions
Is Chester, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chester scores better for retirees than 99% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 86%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.8).
How much does a house cost in Chester?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester is valued at $112,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,607, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $647 a month.
What is the weather like in Chester?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 31.3 inches of snow.
Does Chester get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 8, 2024. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)