CensusEasy
CITY

Chester

Montana · 844 residents (2025 est.) · 0.487 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Chester has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,750. Population has declined 14% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $172,900. With a median age of 57.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 26% less than the Montana median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 57.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 61%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
749
−14%since 2000
from 871 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,538 / sq mi
−14%since 2000
from 1,789 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
57.5
+22%since 2000
from 47.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:844 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6657839021K1K1990201020202024Chester
2024749
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,750
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,578 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,628
+178%since 2000
from $16,077 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.9%
+17.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.504
+15%since 2010
from 0.437 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information8.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance7.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food4.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Retail trade2.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$172,900
+61%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$720
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $343 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
55.7%
−11.3 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
44.3% rent
Vacancy rate
12.7%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.8%
+11.5 ptssince 2009
from 37.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+51%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
70
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.7%(860)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0.6%(5)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.4%(13)
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(699)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian1.9%(14)
Other4.8%(36)
Diversity Score15.8%(118)
Diversity Score
16
+1000%since 2000
from 1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.8%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 19.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.5%
+10.7 ptssince 2000
from 81.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.5%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
11.2 min
+1%since 2000
from 11.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.8%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
18.2%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 25.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.5%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2011
from 0.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
48.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 52.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.7%
−26.4 ptssince 2009
from 59.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
39.7%
−7.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
Female
60.3%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
Foreign born
2.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
12.3%
−34.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
26.8%
+5.9 ptssince 2012
from 20.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.4%
−87.3 ptssince 2013
from 92.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
72.7%
+3.6 ptssince 2017
from 69.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 96.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Chester

Southport
Pop 873
Paradise Heights
Pop 877
Penney Farms
Pop 835
Coleman
Pop 803
Places similar to Chester
Head to head

Compare Chester to nearby cities

CHESTER VS
Havre
Income$50,329−6%
Home value$211,700+22%
Population9,264+998%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER VS
Great Falls
Income$63,373+18%
Home value$257,000+49%
Population60,208+7034%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER VS
Helena Valley Southeast
Income$74,075+38%
Home value$331,500+92%
Population9,108+979%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER VS
Helena Valley West Central
Income$90,082+68%
Home value$367,200+112%
Population8,056+855%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chester, Montana?

Chester, Montana has about 749 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chester, Montana?

The typical household in Chester, Montana earns about $53,750 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chester, Montana expensive?

In Chester, Montana, the median home is worth about $172,900, and the typical rent is about $720 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, Montana?

About 29.8% of adults age 25 and over in Chester, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chester, Montana?

About 13.8% of people in Chester, Montana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chester, Montana grown since 1990?

Yes, Chester, Montana has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 193 residents, a change of about -20 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Montana
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Chester with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →