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Chester, IA
City in Howard County, Iowa.
Population
150
Land area
1.4sq mi
People per sq mi
108
ZIP codes
0
Chester and its ZIP codes
Chester at a glance
- Chester is 89% denser than Iowa as a whole.
Local data for Chester, IA
Counts from official public data
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Howard County. PPP loans are for Chester.
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Aug 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,299
4,358 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$66,810
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$75.8M
FY 2026, $8,005 per person
Environment and hazard risk
Chester, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
428
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
14
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 6°F
38.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Chester, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.5%
U.S. 33.3% +7.2 pts
Diabetes
12.8%
U.S. 12.1% +0.7 pts
Smoking
19.5%
U.S. 12.8% +6.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.6%
U.S. 11.1% -1.5 pts
Cities near Chester
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Lime SpringsCity | 4.9 mi | 1 |
| Le Roy, MNCity | 7.2 mi | 0.7 |
| Ostrander, MNCity | 9 mi | 0.5 |
| McIntireCity | 12 mi | 1 |
| RicevilleCity | 13 mi | 1.1 |
| Spring Valley, MNCity | 14 mi | 3 |
| Taopi, MNCity | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| CrescoCity | 15 mi | 3.3 |
| Wykoff, MNCity | 16 mi | 0.9 |
| MeyerCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 0.7 |
| ElmaCity | 18 mi | 1.2 |
| Grand Meadow, MNCity | 18 mi | 0.7 |
| Harmony, MNCity | 18 mi | 1.1 |
| Adams, MNCity | 19 mi | 1 |
| Preston, MNCity | 19 mi | 2.5 |
| Little CedarCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 0.5 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Chester, IA in?
- Chester is in Howard County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Chester, IA?
- About 150 people live in Chester, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Chester?
- Nearby places include Lime Springs (4.9 mi), Le Roy, MN (7.2 mi), Ostrander, MN (9 mi), McIntire (12 mi), Riceville (13 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023