United States › South Carolina › Chester County COUNTY
Chester County South Carolina · 33,001 residents (2025 est.) · 581 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Chester County is a county of 32,182 people in South Carolina. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 14% of adults. 78% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $158,300, having more than doubled since 2000. The foreign-born share is 1%. The median age is 42.4, about 3 years above the US median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 34,068 in 2000
33,001 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 56 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 36.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
32K 33K 33K 34K 34K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Chester County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $52,458
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,425 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,709 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.449 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 7.5%
Transportation & warehousing 2.5%
Public administration 1.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
Education & health services 0.8%
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$158,300
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $60,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$853
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $409 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 78.4% in 2000
21.6% rent
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.50 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 26.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.6 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 59.6%(20,304)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(255)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 57.7%(18,579)
from 64 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 27 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 67.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 84.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 15.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 57.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 65.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 16.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 51.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 82.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 93.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 32.8%(4,166)
Women 15+
Never married 29.2%(4,005)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 47.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 22.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 23.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 58.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 43.1% 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) 20.7%(431)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.9%(476)
Share of the 2,081 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Chester County Head to head
Compare Chester County to nearby counties CHESTER COUNTY VS
York County
Income $89,095 +70%
Home value $361,300 +128%
Population 306,887 +830%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER COUNTY VS
Fairfield County
Income $47,885 −9%
Home value $151,200 −4%
Population 20,340 −38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER COUNTY VS
Union County
Income $41,621 −21%
Home value $103,600 −35%
Population 26,799 −19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER COUNTY VS
Lancaster County
Income $78,869 +50%
Home value $329,900 +108%
Population 114,296 +246%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Chester County, South Carolina? Chester County, South Carolina has about 32,182 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Chester County, South Carolina? The typical household in Chester County, South Carolina earns about $52,458 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Chester County, South Carolina expensive? In Chester County, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $158,300, and the typical rent is about $853 a month.
How educated are people in Chester County, South Carolina? About 14.0% of adults age 25 and over in Chester County, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Chester County, South Carolina? About 18.7% of people in Chester County, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Chester County, South Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Chester County, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 12 residents, a change of about 0 percent over that period.
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