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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Chester

West Virginia · 2,592 residents · 1.00 sq mi
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The short version

Chester is a city of 2,592 people in West Virginia. At a median age of 40.4, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Home values have more than doubled since 1990, reaching $60,300. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Density works out to 2,595 people per square mile. Median household income is $28,550, under the $42,589 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $28,550, below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 40.4
US median: 35.2
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

2,592
−11%since 1990
from 2,905 in 1990
1990 – 2025
2,595 / sq mi
−11%since 1990
from 2,908 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
40.4
+6%since 1990
from 38.1 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
1.00 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K3K3K3K19902000201020202024Chester
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.2%(135)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96.3%(163)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.4%(165)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 196.1%(158)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246%(155)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.2%(317)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414.9%(387)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.8%(357)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649.3%(241)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 749.6%(250)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 848.5%(220)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.7%(44)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$28,550
+25%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $17,320 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$17,137
+86%since 1990
from $9,221 in 1990
US average: $21,522
10.8%
−11.6 ptssince 1990
from 22.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$60,300
+51%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $30,400 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$403
+7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $285 in 1990
US average: $602
66.3%
−1.0 ptssince 1990
from 67.3% in 1990
33.7% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic98.6%(2,865)
Black0.2%(6)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(34)
Asian0%(0)
2000
White, non-Hispanic97.8%(2,536)
Black0.2%(4)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(29)
Asian0.2%(5)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Cuban0.8%(18)
Mexican0.7%(16)
Asian origin
Japanese0.7%(16)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German34%(740)
English15.1%(328)
Irish12.2%(266)
American6.1%(132)
Hungarian5.2%(113)
Scotch-Irish5.1%(112)
Italian2.4%(53)
French2%(43)
Polish1.3%(28)
Scottish1.1%(23)
Dutch0.9%(19)
Finnish0.6%(13)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Slovak0.3%(7)
Lithuanian0.3%(6)
Serbian0.3%(6)
Canadian0.2%(5)
Greek0.2%(5)
Section 05

Education

14.6%
+5.8 ptssince 1990
from 8.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
87.8%
+19.1 ptssince 1990
from 68.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
3.2%
+0.8 ptssince 1990
from 2.5% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

14.3 min
−15%since 1990
from 16.8 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 married24.1%(259)
Married58.8%(632)
Widowed7.4%(80)
Divorced9.6%(103)
Women 15+
Never married16.1%(173)
Married58%(624)
Widowed15.6%(168)
Divorced10.3%(111)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

6.4%
−7.2 ptssince 2013
from 13.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
43.8%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 41.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
21.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 22.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
31.8%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 28.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
31.0%
+7.5 ptssince 2020
from 23.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2020
from 6.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
56.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2020
from 59.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
58.7%
+5.3 ptssince 2020
from 53.4% 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)16.9%(24)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.4%(29)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era19%(27)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.2%(6)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II5.6%(8)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 142 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, West Virginia?

Chester, West Virginia has about 2,592 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Chester, West Virginia?

The typical household in Chester, West Virginia earns about $28,550 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chester, West Virginia expensive?

In Chester, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $60,300, and the typical rent is about $403 a month.

How educated are people in Chester, West Virginia?

About 14.6% of adults age 25 and over in Chester, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chester, West Virginia?

About 10.8% of people in Chester, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chester, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Chester, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 313 residents, a change of about -11 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 →