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Chester, SC
City in Chester County, South Carolina.
Population
5,218
Land area
3.3sq mi
People per sq mi
1,579
ZIP codes
0
Chester and its ZIP codes
Chester at a glance
- Chester is about 9 times as dense as South Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $46,138, 33% below the South Carolina median of $69,324.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $123,000 (53% below South Carolina) and median rent is $902 a month.
Local data for Chester, SC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Chester, SC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$46,138
Poverty rate
19.4%
Median home value
$123,000
Median rent
$902/mo
Homeownership
59.1%
Bachelor's or higher
14.0%
Median age
38.8
Average commute
28.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Italian Americans (211), Irish Americans (182), German Americans (104).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Chester County. PPP loans are for Chester.
Unemployment rate
5.3%
Aug 2026, -0.9 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$61,267
10,583 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$48,449
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$233M
FY 2026, $7,200 per person
How people get to work
Chester, SC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone85.3%
- Carpooled10.4%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.9%
- Worked from home1.6%
Average one-way commute: 28.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Chester, SC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
368
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
20
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
90° / 30°F
45.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Chester, SC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
44.8%
U.S. 33.3% +11.5 pts
Diabetes
21.8%
U.S. 12.1% +9.7 pts
Smoking
22.4%
U.S. 12.8% +9.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
17.6%
U.S. 11.1% +6.5 pts
Cities near Chester
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Eureka MillCensus-designated place | 1.3 mi | 1.3 |
| Gayle MillCensus-designated place | 1.4 mi | 0.7 |
| LowrysTown | 7 mi | 3.2 |
| RichburgTown | 11 mi | 0.9 |
| McConnellsTown | 11 mi | 3.4 |
| LockhartTown | 15 mi | 0.3 |
| CarlisleTown | 16 mi | 1.4 |
| Fort LawnTown | 18 mi | 1.4 |
| SharonTown | 18 mi | 1.3 |
| Rock HillCity | 20 mi | 44.5 |
| Great FallsTown | 20 mi | 4.2 |
| LesslieCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 6.1 |
| NewportCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 8 |
| YorkCity | 20 mi | 8.5 |
| CatawbaCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 10 |
| Monarch MillCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 5.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Chester, SC in?
- Chester is in Chester County, South Carolina.
- What is the population of Chester, SC?
- About 5,218 people live in Chester, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Chester?
- Nearby places include Eureka Mill (1.3 mi), Gayle Mill (1.4 mi), Lowrys (7 mi), Richburg (11 mi), McConnells (11 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023