Chester is a small town of 6,941 in Illinois, with a median household income of $68,826
and a 3.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Chester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Chester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Chester city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.0
Chester's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Chester costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Chester, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$111,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$628
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$68,826
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Chester's violent crime rate is 44.7 per 100,000 residents
— 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
44.7 /100k
Property Crime
268.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Chester is served primarily by Chester CUSD 139.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Chester, IL
National Avg
School District
Chester CUSD 139
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
7.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
71.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Chester sees average highs of 40.4°F in January
and 89.1°F in July,
with 43.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 12.0 inches of snow per year.
Chester's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Chester roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $111,100 and median rent is $628/month.
Chester's violent crime rate is 44.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 268.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Chester are operated by Chester CUSD 139.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 7.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Chester, IL has a population of 6,941, a median household income of $68,826, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Chester averages 40.4°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.9 inches
with about 12.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Chester, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62233.
The population of Chester, Illinois is 6,941 with a median age of 43.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Chester: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $111,100, median household income $68,826, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.