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Chester, MA

Census-designated place in Hampden County, Massachusetts.

Population

681

Land area

1.4sq mi

People per sq mi

488

ZIP codes

0

Chester and its ZIP codes

Full map

Chester at a glance

  • Chester is 46% less dense than Massachusetts as a whole.
  • The median household income is $77,143, 26% below the Massachusetts median of $103,960.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $257,400 (54% below Massachusetts) and median rent is $1,102 a month.

Local data for Chester, MA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Chester, MA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$77,143

Poverty rate

2.2%

Median home value

$257,400

Median rent

$1,102/mo

Homeownership

66.1%

Bachelor's or higher

15.1%

Median age

42.4

Average commute

27.7 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Polish Americans (37), Irish Americans (29), Italian Americans (26).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Hampden County. PPP loans are for Chester.

Details

Unemployment rate

5.7%

Aug 2026, -0.1 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$64,686

201,216 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$66,238

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$3.2B

FY 2026, $6,892 per person

Hampden County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Chester, MA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone90.1%
  • Carpooled2.8%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked5.0%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home2.2%

Average one-way commute: 27.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Chester, MA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: ice storm

Storm events since 1996

1,243

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

496

0.4% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

80° / 12°F

54.1 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Chester, MA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

32.6%

U.S. 33.3% -0.7 pts

Diabetes

9.9%

U.S. 12.1% -2.2 pts

Smoking

14.5%

U.S. 12.8% +1.7 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

4.0%

U.S. 11.1% -7.1 pts

Cities near Chester

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
HuntingtonCensus-designated place6 mi4.6
BlandfordCensus-designated place8 mi1.2
RussellCensus-designated place8.7 mi2.3
LeeCensus-designated place14 mi1.3
Lenox DaleCensus-designated place14 mi0.5
WestfieldCity15 mi46.3
EasthamptonCity16 mi13.3
NorthamptonCity16 mi34.2
LenoxCensus-designated place16 mi2
HolyokeCity18 mi21.2
PittsfieldCity18 mi40.5
North Granby, CTCensus-designated place20 mi8.3
HousatonicCensus-designated place20 mi0.9
West Springfield TownCity20 mi16.7
HatfieldCensus-designated place20 mi2.4
Great BarringtonCensus-designated place21 mi1.4

Frequently asked questions

What county is Chester, MA in?
Chester is in Hampden County, Massachusetts.
What is the population of Chester, MA?
About 681 people live in Chester, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Chester?
Nearby places include Huntington (6 mi), Blandford (8 mi), Russell (8.7 mi), Lee (14 mi), Lenox Dale (14 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023