CensusEasy
CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Chester

Virginia · 17,890 residents · 13.2 sq mi
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The short version

With 17,890 people, Chester is a city in Virginia. Owners hold 76% of the housing stock. Growth has run 19% since 1990, or 2,904 more people. Median household income runs $53,171, well clear of the $42,589 US median. Poverty is uncommon here, at 8.0% of people here. 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 35.2
US median: 35.2
More educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

17,890
+19%since 1990
from 14,986 in 1990
1990 – 2024
35.2
+8%since 1990
from 32.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
13.2 sq mi
Population, 19902024
14K17K20K23K25K19902000201020202024Chester
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 57.5%(1,335)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.9%(1,414)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.1%(1,442)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.5%(1,345)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 245.2%(928)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.5%(2,423)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4417.8%(3,189)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5415.3%(2,741)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 648.9%(1,586)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 745.3%(943)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 842.6%(457)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over0.5%(87)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$53,171
−2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $41,229 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$23,258
+43%since 1990
from $16,258 in 1990
US average: $21,522
8.0%
+0.4 ptssince 1990
from 7.5% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$114,200
−4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $90,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$621
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $444 in 1990
US average: $602
75.9%
−0.6 ptssince 1990
from 76.6% in 1990
24.1% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic88.5%(13,264)
Black9.3%(1,400)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(234)
Asian1.5%(218)
2000
White, non-Hispanic79.6%(14,242)
Black13.2%(2,368)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(547)
Asian2.1%(382)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Central American6.9%(1,699)
Salvadoran5.2%(1,266)
Puerto Rican3.5%(849)
Mexican3.2%(786)
Guatemalan1.1%(274)
Peruvian1%(248)
Panamanian0.4%(88)
Cuban0.3%(83)
Honduran0.3%(71)
Dominican0.3%(67)
Spaniard0.2%(57)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Ecuadorian0.2%(50)
Venezuelan0.2%(45)
Uruguayan0.2%(40)
Argentine0.1%(24)
Colombian0.1%(16)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.8%(193)
Korean0.3%(75)
Chinese0.3%(70)
Pakistani0.1%(25)
Filipino0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.6%(143)
Samoan0.6%(140)
Ancestry
English13.7%(3,360)
American9.1%(2,228)
Irish8.5%(2,083)
German8.1%(1,992)
Italian3.1%(750)
Scottish1.8%(429)
Polish1.6%(387)
French1.3%(327)
Scotch-Irish1.2%(294)
Iranian1.1%(281)
West Indian0.9%(212)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Haitian0.4%(88)
Dutch0.4%(86)
Norwegian0.3%(84)
Welsh0.3%(62)
Romanian0.2%(52)
Austrian0.2%(48)
Greek0.2%(48)
Canadian0.2%(43)
Portuguese0.2%(41)
Slovak0.1%(36)
Swedish0.1%(30)
Czech0.1%(29)
Hungarian0.1%(25)
British0.1%(23)
Russian0.1%(20)
Danish0.1%(15)
Swiss0%(10)
Arab0%(4)
Section 05

Education

27.7%
+2.8 ptssince 1990
from 24.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
85.9%
+4.7 ptssince 1990
from 81.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
9.0%
−0.1 ptssince 1990
from 9.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

16.0 min
−22%since 1990
from 20.7 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.5%(1,611)
Married64.8%(4,262)
Widowed1.9%(126)
Divorced8.7%(574)
Women 15+
Never married20%(1,402)
Married62.7%(4,405)
Widowed7.5%(528)
Divorced9.8%(691)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

6.8%
−10.1 ptssince 2013
from 16.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
62.5%
−5.8 ptssince 2020
from 68.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
12.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 10.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
17.6%
+3.5 ptssince 2020
from 14.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
18.4%
+6.2 ptssince 2020
from 12.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 4.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
75.3%
−5.2 ptssince 2020
from 80.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
36.2%
+8.7 ptssince 2020
from 27.5% 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)27.1%(549)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)31.9%(646)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era27.5%(557)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.2%(84)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 2,023 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, Virginia?

Chester, Virginia has about 17,890 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Chester, Virginia?

The typical household in Chester, Virginia earns about $53,171 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chester, Virginia expensive?

In Chester, Virginia, the median home is worth about $114,200, and the typical rent is about $621 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, Virginia?

About 27.7% of adults age 25 and over in Chester, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chester, Virginia?

About 8.0% of people in Chester, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chester, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Chester, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,904 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

How we source and harmonize this data →