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COUNTY

Chester County

South Carolina · 33,001 residents (2025 est.) · 580.661 sq mi
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The short version

Chester County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,458. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $158,300.

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

Total population
32,182
−6%since 2000
from 34,068 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
55 / sq mi
−1%since 2009
from 56 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.4
+18%since 2000
from 36.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:33,001 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
32K33K33K34K34K1990201020202024Chester County
202432K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(1,733)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(1,839)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.9%(2,224)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(1,991)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(1,912)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.9%(3,843)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.4%(3,677)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.8%(4,108)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.5%(4,666)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.8%(3,793)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.9%(1,888)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(508)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,458
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,425 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,227
+92%since 2000
from $14,709 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.9%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.7%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.441
−2%since 2010
from 0.449 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$158,300
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $60,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$853
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $409 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 78.4% in 2000
21.6% rent
Vacancy rate
11.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.0%
−8.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.1%
−8.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+14%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
51
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chester County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic59.6%(20,304)
Black38.5%(13,109)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(255)
Asian0.3%(96)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic57.7%(18,579)
Black34.5%(11,102)
Hispanic / Latino3%(974)
Asian0.4%(126)
Other4.4%(1,401)
Diversity Score
68
+7%since 2009
from 64 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
27
+3%since 2020
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

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.8%(589)
Puerto Rican0.5%(162)
Cuban0.2%(78)
Colombian0.2%(59)
Honduran0.1%(48)
Spaniard0.1%(19)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.2%(49)
Filipino0.1%(45)
Chinese0.1%(24)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American12%(3,851)
English8.5%(2,739)
Irish6%(1,923)
German4.7%(1,525)
Scotch-Irish3.4%(1,101)
Italian1.8%(567)
Welsh1.1%(366)
Polish0.8%(256)
French0.7%(221)
Scottish0.7%(212)
Swedish0.3%(107)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.3%(89)
Czech0.3%(85)
Russian0.2%(80)
British0.2%(75)
Nigerian0.2%(49)
Austrian0.1%(42)
Finnish0.1%(37)
Ukrainian0.1%(37)
Hungarian0.1%(31)
Belgian0.1%(22)
Canadian0.1%(18)
Norwegian0%(12)
Swiss0%(5)
Greek0%(3)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.0%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.3%
+18.1 ptssince 2000
from 67.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.4%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.6 min
+56%since 2000
from 20.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 84.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.9%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−10.2 ptssince 2011
from 15.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2011
from 57.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
22.3%
−34.6 ptssince 2009
from 56.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
51.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.4%
−38.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.2%
−3.0 ptssince 2012
from 17.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.7%
−71.9 ptssince 2013
from 83.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.0%
+31.3 ptssince 2017
from 51.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married32.8%(4,166)
Married52.7%(6,686)
Widowed4.7%(601)
Divorced9.7%(1,236)
Women 15+
Never married29.2%(4,005)
Married48.3%(6,610)
Widowed10.7%(1,461)
Divorced11.8%(1,621)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 32,449
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Head to head

Compare Chester County to nearby counties

CHESTER COUNTY VS
York County
Income$89,095+70%
Home value$361,300+128%
Population306,887+830%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER COUNTY VS
Fairfield County
Income$47,885−9%
Home value$151,200−4%
Population20,340−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER COUNTY VS
Union County
Income$41,621−21%
Home value$103,600−35%
Population26,799−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHESTER COUNTY VS
Lancaster County
Income$78,869+50%
Home value$329,900+108%
Population114,296+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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Explore from here

11 census tracts
Census Tract 208Census Tract 206.02Census Tract 203Census Tract 202Census Tract 204Census Tract 205Census Tract 206.01Census Tract 209Census Tract 201Census Tract 207Census Tract 210
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 29706ZIP 29055ZIP 29714ZIP 29729ZIP 29712ZIP 29031ZIP 29724
Up the hierarchy
All counties in South Carolina
Rankings
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →