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CITY

Chester

Illinois · 6,847 residents (2025 est.) · 5.772 sq mi
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#25Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-20.6%
The short version

Chester has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $80,625. Population has grown 31% since 2000. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $111,700. The poverty rate of 21.7% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,797
+31%since 2000
from 5,185 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,178 / sq mi
+31%since 2000
from 898 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.5
+10%since 2000
from 39.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,847 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K7K8K9K1990201020202024Chester
20247K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$80,625
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,079 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,444
+10%since 2000
from $22,190 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.1%
+29.7 ptssince 2009
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.7%
+12.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.410
+6%since 2010
from 0.386 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade3.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Information2.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing2.2%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$111,700
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$760
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $389 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
26.0% rent
Vacancy rate
13.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
8.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
28.8%
+9.4 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.4
−9%since 2000
from 1.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.4%(4,896)
Black3.6%(185)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(39)
Asian0.2%(11)
Other0%
Diversity Score11%(571)
2024
White, non-Hispanic68.1%(4,632)
Black27.4%(1,859)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(227)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.2%(79)
Diversity Score57.4%(3,904)
Diversity Score
57
+421%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
74.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 72.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.0 min
+59%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
85.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 86.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.6%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
35.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2011
from 34.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.7%
−21.7 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
68.0%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 76.1% in 2009
Female
32.0%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−71.8 ptssince 2009
from 78.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
27.9%
+11.4 ptssince 2012
from 16.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.0%
−82.8 ptssince 2013
from 91.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.6%
+27.3 ptssince 2017
from 61.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2016
from 95.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 3.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Pop 7,146
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Pop 7,890
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Head to head

Compare Chester to nearby cities

CHESTER VS
Perryville
Income$51,897−36%
Home value$179,700+61%
Population8,593+26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER VS
Waterloo
Income$98,711+22%
Home value$249,500+123%
Population11,132+63%
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CHESTER VS
Farmington
Income$53,729−33%
Home value$196,500+76%
Population19,226+181%
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CHESTER VS
Carbondale
Income$32,128−60%
Home value$127,900+15%
Population21,811+219%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Chester, Illinois?

Chester, Illinois has about 6,797 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chester, Illinois?

The typical household in Chester, Illinois earns about $80,625 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chester, Illinois expensive?

In Chester, Illinois, the median home is worth about $111,700, and the typical rent is about $760 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, Illinois?

About 10.2% of adults age 25 and over in Chester, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chester, Illinois?

About 21.7% of people in Chester, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chester, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Chester, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,397 residents, a change of about -17 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →