What are the schools like in Chester, MA?

Chester is served primarily by Gateway. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.7:1.

What is the median household income in Chester?

The median household income in Chester, MA is $79,167 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

What is the weather like in Chester, MA?

Chester has an average high temperature of 31.5°F in January and 79.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 77.1 inches.

Chester, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Chester, MA affordable or expensive?

Chester's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chester is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $194,300 and the median rent is $981 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Chester, MA?

Chester has a violent crime rate of 476.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1637.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chester, MA a Good Place to Live?

Chester is a small town of 795 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $79,167 and a 3.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Chester stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).

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: 98.4

Chester's overall cost of living index is 98.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chester costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chester, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$194,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$981	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$79,167	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Chester's violent crime rate is 476.9 per 100,000 residents — 25% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

476.9 /100k

Property Crime

1637.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Chester is served primarily by Gateway. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chester, MA	National Avg
School District	Gateway	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chester sees average highs of 31.5°F in January and 79.6°F in July, with 52.3 inches of annual precipitation and 77.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chester, MA
Average High — January	31.5°F
Average High — July	79.6°F
Annual Precipitation	52.3"
Annual Snowfall	77.1"

Demographics

Metric	Chester, MA	National Avg
Population	795	—
Median Age	45.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	29.2%	22.2%
65 and over	12.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Huntington, MA 5 mi Blandford, MA 8 mi Russell, MA 8 mi Lee, MA 14 mi Lenox Dale, MA 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Chester

Chester, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01011

Chester vs Other Cities

Chester, MA vs Huntington, MA Chester, MA vs Blandford, MA Chester, MA vs Russell, MA Chester, MA vs Lee, MA Chester, MA vs Lenox Dale, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chester, MA affordable or expensive?

Chester's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chester roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $194,300 and median rent is $981/month.

What is the crime rate in Chester, MA?

Chester's violent crime rate is 476.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1637.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chester?

Public schools in Chester are operated by Gateway. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.7:1. 13.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chester, MA a good place to live?

Chester, MA has a population of 795, a median household income of $79,167, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Chester?

Chester averages 31.5°F in January and 79.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.3 inches with about 77.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chester?

Chester, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01011.

What is the population of Chester?

The population of Chester, Massachusetts is 795 with a median age of 45.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chester?

Key numbers for living in Chester: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $194,300, median household income $79,167, crime index 106 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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.