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CITY

Chester

Pennsylvania · 33,996 residents (2025 est.) · 4.833 sq mi
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The short version

Chester has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,342. Population has declined 9% since 2000. 14% 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 $83,100. At a median age of 33.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 47% less than the Pennsylvania median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% 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
33,619
−9%since 2000
from 36,854 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
6,956 / sq mi
−9%since 2000
from 7,625 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.9
+11%since 2000
from 30.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:33,996 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
32K34K37K40K43K1990201020202024Chester
202434K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,342
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,703 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,100
+77%since 2000
from $13,052 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
25.3%
+14.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
29.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 27.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.463
−3%since 2010
from 0.478 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance10.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical9.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade9.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$83,100
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,091
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $541 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
40.0%
−7.7 ptssince 2000
from 47.7% in 2000
60.0% rent
Vacancy rate
16.0%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.9%
−13.0 ptssince 2009
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
62.9%
+8.4 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
+19%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic17.9%(6,582)
Black74.6%(27,500)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(1,986)
Asian0.6%(217)
Other0%
Diversity Score48.7%(17,951)
2024
White, non-Hispanic13.3%(4,475)
Black70.5%(23,697)
Hispanic / Latino11.1%(3,730)
Asian0.8%(266)
Other4.3%(1,451)
Diversity Score58.9%(19,802)
Diversity Score
59
+21%since 2000
from 49 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.4%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.3%
+15.6 ptssince 2000
from 68.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.9 min
+35%since 2000
from 17.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
58.1%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 60.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
9.7%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.5%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
8.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
29.2%
−8.8 ptssince 2009
from 38.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
17.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2011
from 16.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.1%
+5.9 ptssince 2011
from 53.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
23.7%
−36.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
Female
51.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
Foreign born
5.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.4%
−40.4 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2012
from 14.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−79.6 ptssince 2013
from 85.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.6%
+26.0 ptssince 2017
from 62.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.2%
+3.8 ptssince 2016
from 87.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 9.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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CHESTER VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Chester, Pennsylvania?

Chester, Pennsylvania has about 33,619 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chester, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Chester, Pennsylvania earns about $41,342 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chester, Pennsylvania expensive?

In Chester, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $83,100, and the typical rent is about $1,091 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, Pennsylvania?

About 14.4% of adults age 25 and over in Chester, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chester, Pennsylvania?

About 29.0% of people in Chester, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chester, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, Chester, Pennsylvania has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 8,237 residents, a change of about -20 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 →