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CITY · 2010 ACS

Chester

South Carolina · 5,607 residents · 3.31 sq mi
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The short version

Chester is a city of 5,607 people in South Carolina. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 28% national rate. Median home value sits at $74,700. The poverty rate is 26.0%, above the 13.8% national rate. Households here earn about 36% less than in South Carolina as a whole. 0% of people here were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 36.4
US median: 37.2
Less educated
13% 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

5,607
−13%since 2000
from 6,476 in 2000
1990 – 2025
36.4
+8%since 2000
from 33.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Land area
3.31 sq mi
Population, 19902024
5K6K6K7K7K19902000201020202024Chester
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 57.7%(432)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 97.7%(429)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 147.3%(410)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 197.4%(413)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.6%(369)
US avg: 7%
25 to 3411.7%(654)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4412.1%(677)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5413.6%(760)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6412.4%(698)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 747.7%(431)
US avg: 7%
75 to 844.1%(232)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over1.8%(102)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$28,146
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,518 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
$16,674
+25%since 2000
from $13,386 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
12.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
26.0%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
0.502
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade28.2%
US avg: 10.9%
Information14.9%
US avg: 11.5%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services4%
US avg: 7%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.9%
Wholesale trade3.1%
US avg: 7.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.7%
US avg: 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$74,700
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,800 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
$499
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $400 in 2000
US average: $853
55.3%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 60.4% in 2000
44.7% rent
19.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
2.37 people
+5%since 2009
from 2.25 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
32.2%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 34.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
56.7%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 65.3% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
2.7
−17%since 2009
from 3.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic36.1%(2,338)
Black61.9%(4,009)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(54)
Asian0.3%(18)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic31.5%(1,769)
Black65.2%(3,657)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(69)
Asian0.2%(11)
Other1.9%(109)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Ancestry
American12.5%(720)
English5%(287)
Irish4.2%(241)
French2.9%(165)
Scotch-Irish2.3%(132)
German1.9%(111)
Scottish0.9%(51)
West Indian0.5%(26)
Welsh0.4%(25)
Italian0.4%(21)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.3%(17)
Czech0.2%(10)
British0.2%(9)
Polish0.2%(9)
Section 05

Education

13.0%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
73.0%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
2.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

20.7 min
+12%since 2000
from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
80.6%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
11.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
1.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
1.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
2.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
2.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
18.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

12.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
18.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

49.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
50.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
9.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married37.1%(736)
Married42.7%(848)
Widowed7.2%(142)
Divorced13%(259)
Women 15+
Never married43.9%(970)
Married38.6%(854)
Widowed8.2%(182)
Divorced9.3%(206)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

17.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2013
from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
46.2%
+6.5 ptssince 2020
from 39.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
15.6%
+8.4 ptssince 2020
from 7.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
18.4%
−5.2 ptssince 2020
from 23.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
30.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2020
from 33.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 1.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
56.6%
+11.0 ptssince 2020
from 45.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
45.6%
−6.7 ptssince 2020
from 52.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)20.5%(72)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)13.6%(48)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.5%(125)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.8%(10)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II5.1%(18)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 352 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Chester, South Carolina?

Chester, South Carolina has about 5,607 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chester, South Carolina?

The typical household in Chester, South Carolina earns about $28,146 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chester, South Carolina expensive?

In Chester, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $74,700, and the typical rent is about $499 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, South Carolina?

About 13.0% of adults age 25 and over in Chester, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chester, South Carolina?

About 26.0% of people in Chester, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chester, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Chester, South Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,433 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 →