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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Chester

Pennsylvania · 41,856 residents · 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 $20,864. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $37,800. The poverty rate of 25.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 28% less than the Pennsylvania median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 30.2
US median: 33.0
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
41,856
+14%vs 2000
vs 36,854 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
30.2
−1%vs 2000
vs 30.6 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
32K34K37K40K43K1990201020202024Chester
202434K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 59.3%(3,899)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97.8%(3,278)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.1%(2,964)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197.9%(3,299)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 248.9%(3,720)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3416.4%(6,862)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4412.6%(5,261)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 548.6%(3,610)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 647.8%(3,268)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.2%(3,434)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844.1%(1,707)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.3%(554)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$20,864
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $25,703 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$9,115
−30%vs 2000
vs $13,052 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
25.2%
−2.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 27.2% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$37,800
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $43,300 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$392
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $541 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
53.5%
+5.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 47.7% in 2000
46.5% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic32%(13,380)
Black65.2%(27,297)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(1,482)
Asian0.5%(206)
Other2.3%(973)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican6.6%(2,206)
Venezuelan1.1%(383)
Dominican0.9%(318)
Honduran0.9%(307)
Ecuadorian0.4%(141)
Cuban0.4%(126)
Guatemalan0.2%(65)
Mexican0.1%(27)
Asian origin
Chinese0.2%(56)
Korean0.1%(47)
Cambodian0.1%(31)
Filipino0.1%(31)
Asian Indian0.1%(28)
Bangladeshi0.1%(24)
Ancestry
Irish3.7%(1,244)
Italian2.7%(899)
German2.4%(808)
English1.7%(573)
American1.4%(479)
Polish1.2%(415)
West Indian0.7%(232)
Jamaican0.5%(180)
Arab0.5%(152)
Moroccan0.2%(60)
Ukrainian0.2%(58)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.2%(56)
Greek0.2%(52)
Nigerian0.1%(47)
Dutch0.1%(46)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(45)
Canadian0.1%(29)
Lithuanian0.1%(29)
Haitian0.1%(26)
Croatian0.1%(25)
British0.1%(24)
Hungarian0.1%(19)
Welsh0%(15)
French0%(13)
Austrian0%(11)
Ghanaian0%(11)
Ethiopian0%(10)
Russian0%(7)
Danish0%(6)
Swedish0%(4)
RANKED:Largest Puerto Rican population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population · Largest German population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
7.7%
−0.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 8.5% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
62.2%
−6.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 68.7% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
2.1%
−0.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 2.8% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.1 min
+18%vs 2000
vs 17.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married67.5%(8,620)
Married20.1%(2,571)
Widowed2.9%(372)
Divorced9.4%(1,203)
Women 15+
Never married62.8%(9,078)
Married16.4%(2,378)
Widowed9.8%(1,422)
Divorced10.9%(1,581)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Chester to nearby cities

CHESTER VS
Claymont
Income$74,712+258%
Home value$276,600+632%
Population8,786−74%
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CHESTER VS
Carneys Point
Income$77,273+270%
Home value$193,300+411%
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CHESTER VS
Wilmington
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Home value$231,400+512%
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CHESTER VS
Woodbury
Income$77,028+269%
Home value$222,700+489%
Population10,130−70%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Chester, Pennsylvania?

Chester, Pennsylvania has about 41,856 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Chester, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Chester, Pennsylvania earns about $20,864 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 $37,800, and the typical rent is about $392 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, Pennsylvania?

About 7.7% 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 25.2% of people in Chester, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

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

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