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CITY · 2020 ACS

Chester

South Carolina · 5,269 residents · 3.31 sq mi
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The short version

Chester is a city of 5,269 people in South Carolina. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. That trails the South Carolina median by roughly 48%. Median home value sits at $67,700. The poverty rate is 27.0%, above the 12.8% national rate. 1% of people here were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 23%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,269
−19%since 2000
from 6,476 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
38.9
+16%since 2000
from 33.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
3.31 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K6K7K7K19902000201020202024Chester
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.7%(355)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.4%(392)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.5%(395)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196%(314)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(266)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.9%(681)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.2%(591)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.9%(681)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413%(684)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.6%(561)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.3%(277)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.4%(72)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$28,750
−30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,518 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,644
+32%since 2000
from $13,386 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
12.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
27.0%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.5%
US avg: 10%
Information15.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance12.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical9.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services3.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 2%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.5%
Other services1.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade0.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$67,700
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$599
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $400 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
54.3%
−6.1 ptssince 2000
from 60.4% in 2000
45.7% rent
Persons per household
2.31 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.25 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.4
−26%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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic27.5%(1,449)
Black65.4%(3,448)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(120)
Asian0.8%(42)
Other0.6%(33)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Cuban0.3%(14)
Puerto Rican0.2%(12)
Colombian0.2%(11)
Guatemalan0.2%(9)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.4%(22)
Ancestry
Subsaharan African19.8%(1,065)
American16.3%(878)
Irish3.6%(196)
Welsh3.5%(189)
German3.1%(168)
Scotch-Irish2.6%(141)
English2.2%(119)
Italian1.8%(99)
British0.9%(49)
Scottish0.7%(38)
Swedish0.5%(29)
Dutch0.3%(15)
+ 2 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.3%(14)
Polish0.3%(14)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
75.2%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
2.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.9 min
+57%since 2000
from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
86.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
15.8%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.6%
−13.7 ptssince 2011
from 22.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
52.7%
+6.5 ptssince 2011
from 46.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
68.8%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
17.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
51.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.3%
−7.0 ptssince 2013
from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
79.4%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
91.8%
US average: 86.2%
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

Uninsured
10.3%
−7.0 ptssince 2013
from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
39.7%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
7.2%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
23.6%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
33.9%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.4%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
45.6%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
52.3%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)3.8%(8)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)3.3%(7)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era41%(86)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II9%(19)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 210 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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CHESTER VS
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CHESTER VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Chester, South Carolina?

Chester, South Carolina has about 5,269 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Chester, South Carolina earns about $28,750 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 $67,700, and the typical rent is about $599 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, South Carolina?

About 10.6% 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 27.0% 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 1,771 residents, a change of about -25 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 →