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CITY

Chester

Massachusetts · 681 residents · 1.395 sq mi
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The short version

Chester has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $77,143. Population has held roughly steady since 2023. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value is $257,400. Poverty is rare here, at 2.2% of residents. Households here earn about 26% less than the Massachusetts median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% 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
681
−2%since 2023
from 692 in 2023
2010 – 2024
Population density
488 / sq mi
−2%since 2023
from 496 / sq mi in 2023
US average: 281
Median age
42.4
Unchangedsince 2023
from 42.6 in 2023
US average: 38.9
Population, 2010 – 2024
526605684762841201020202024Chester
2024681
201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 50.4%(3)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 912.6%(86)
US avg: 6%
10 to 1414%(95)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.4%(30)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 241.5%(10)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 348.1%(55)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.1%(69)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5420.7%(141)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.3%(104)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.1%(55)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.3%(16)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.5%(17)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$77,143
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $86,042 in 2023
US average: $82,259
2010 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,606
+2%since 2023
from $29,152 in 2023
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
57.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2023
from 61.2% in 2023
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
2.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2023
from 2.9% in 2023
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.271
+25%since 2023
from 0.217 in 2023
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade22.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance16%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical15.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Information7.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade0%
US avg: 6.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$257,400
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $203,300 in 2023
US average: $376,019
2010 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,102
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $1,095 in 2023
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.1%
−4.4 ptssince 2023
from 70.5% in 2023
33.9% rent
Vacancy rate
19.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2023
from 20.8% in 2023
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2023
from 14.6% in 2023
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
56.1%
+21.2 ptssince 2023
from 34.8% in 2023
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+41%since 2023
from 2.4 in 2023
2010 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
37
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2023
White, non-Hispanic98.4%(681)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(5)
Asian0%(0)
Other0.9%(6)
2024
White, non-Hispanic97.8%(666)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(5)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.5%(10)
Diversity Score
5
+38%since 2023
from 4 in 2023
2011 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Honduran0.7%(5)
Ancestry
American43.8%(298)
English6.9%(47)
Polish5.4%(37)
Irish4.3%(29)
Italian3.8%(26)
Welsh2.9%(20)
German2.8%(19)
Czech1.3%(9)
Jamaican0.9%(6)
Scottish0.7%(5)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
British0.6%(4)
French0.6%(4)
Danish0.4%(3)
Latvian0.4%(3)
Swedish0.4%(3)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Polish population · Largest French Canadian population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2023
from 16.1% in 2023
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.4%
−2.5 ptssince 2023
from 97.9% in 2023
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2023
from 8.5% in 2023
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.7 min
−7%since 2023
from 29.9 min in 2023
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
90.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2023
from 91.2% in 2023
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
2.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2023
from 2.3% in 2023
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2023
from 0.0% in 2023
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2023
from 1.8% in 2023
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2023
from 3.8% in 2023
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2023
from 0.0% in 2023
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.7%
+6.0 ptssince 2023
from 2.7% in 2023
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2023
from 3.6% in 2023
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.8%
−5.5 ptssince 2023
from 72.3% in 2023
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
6.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2023
from 10.3% in 2023
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2023
from 25.3% in 2023
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2023
from 44.9% in 2023
Female
57.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2023
from 55.1% in 2023
Foreign born
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2023
from 0.0% in 2023
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2023
from 4.0% in 2023
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2023
from 14.5% in 2023
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.1%
−3.0 ptssince 2023
from 7.1% in 2023
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.6%
+4.6 ptssince 2023
from 83.0% in 2023
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
100.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2023
from 99.6% in 2023
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2023
from 0.0% in 2023
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married20.2%(47)
Married59.2%(138)
Widowed1.3%(3)
Divorced19.3%(45)
Women 15+
Never married23.9%(63)
Married50.8%(134)
Widowed6.8%(18)
Divorced18.6%(49)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Chester to nearby cities

CHESTER VS
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Home value$325,100+26%
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CHESTER VS
Northampton
Income$80,288+4%
Home value$429,700+67%
Population31,047+4459%
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CHESTER VS
Holyoke
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Home value$274,100+6%
Population38,023+5483%
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CHESTER VS
Pittsfield
Income$70,582−9%
Home value$256,900same
Population42,909+6201%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Chester, Massachusetts?

Chester, Massachusetts has about 681 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chester, Massachusetts?

The typical household in Chester, Massachusetts earns about $77,143 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chester, Massachusetts expensive?

In Chester, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $257,400, and the typical rent is about $1,102 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, Massachusetts?

About 15.1% of adults age 25 and over in Chester, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chester, Massachusetts?

About 2.2% of people in Chester, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Chester, Massachusetts: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy