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CITY · 2010 ACS

Chester

Pennsylvania · 33,972 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 $26,787. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $66,900. At a median age of 29.9, 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: $52,703
Younger
median age 29.9
US median: 37.2
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
33,972
−8%since 2000
from 36,854 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
7,029 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 7,625 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
29.9
−2%since 2000
from 30.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
32K34K37K40K43K1990201020202024Chester
202434K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$26,787
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,703 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$14,251
+9%since 2000
from $13,052 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
11.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
35.1%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 27.2% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.478
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information11.1%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade10%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 7%
Public administration5.4%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 4.2%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$66,900
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$741
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $541 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
24.0%
−23.7 ptssince 2000
from 47.7% in 2000
61.5% rent
Vacancy rate
20.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
32.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.5
+48%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic15.1%(5,117)
Black73%(24,803)
Hispanic / Latino9%(3,054)
Asian0.6%(213)
Other1.1%(389)
Diversity Score52.8%(17,948)
Diversity Score
53
+8%since 2000
from 49 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
76.9%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 68.7% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
3.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.7 min
+34%since 2000
from 17.0 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
60.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 60.1% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
15.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
6.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
37.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 38.0% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
11.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
22.2%
−38.2 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
Female
54.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
9.0%
−36.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Chester

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Pop 27,808
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Pop 23,822
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Pop 36,898
West Pensacola
Pop 20,665
Places similar to Chester
Head to head

Compare Chester to nearby cities

CHESTER VS
Claymont
Income$74,712+179%
Home value$276,600+313%
Population8,786−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER VS
Carneys Point
Income$77,273+188%
Home value$193,300+189%
Population8,050−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER VS
Wilmington
Income$58,671+119%
Home value$231,400+246%
Population73,512+116%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER VS
Woodbury
Income$77,028+188%
Home value$222,700+233%
Population10,130−70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chester, Pennsylvania?

Chester, Pennsylvania has about 33,972 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chester, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Chester, Pennsylvania earns about $26,787 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 $66,900, and the typical rent is about $741 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, Pennsylvania?

About 8.7% 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 35.1% 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 7,884 residents, a change of about -19 percent over that period.

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

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