What are the schools like in Chestertown, MD?

Chestertown is served primarily by Kent County Public Schools. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.7:1.

What is the median household income in Chestertown?

The median household income in Chestertown, MD is $43,980 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

What is the weather like in Chestertown, MD?

Chestertown has an average high temperature of 40.8°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 16.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Chestertown, MD affordable or expensive?

Chestertown's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chestertown is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $302,200 and the median rent is $982 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Chestertown, MD?

Chestertown has a violent crime rate of 231.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1851.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chestertown, MD a Good Place to Live?

Chestertown is a small town of 5,522 in Maryland, with a median household income of $43,980 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Chestertown stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Chestertown is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Chestertown 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: 99.1

Chestertown's overall cost of living index is 99.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chestertown costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chestertown, MD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$302,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$982	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	47.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,980	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Chestertown's violent crime rate is 231.5 per 100,000 residents — 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

231.5 /100k

Property Crime

1851.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Chestertown is served primarily by Kent County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chestertown, MD	National Avg
School District	Kent County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chestertown sees average highs of 40.8°F in January and 86.6°F in July, with 46.0 inches of annual precipitation and 16.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chestertown, MD
Average High — January	40.8°F
Average High — July	86.6°F
Annual Precipitation	46.0"
Annual Snowfall	16.7"

Demographics

Metric	Chestertown, MD	National Avg
Population	5,522	—
Median Age	32.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	70.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	24.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	2.0%	6.3%
Under 18	14.1%	22.2%
65 and over	26.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kingstown, MD 2 mi Worton, MD 4 mi Butlertown, MD 5 mi Fairlee, MD 5 mi Chesapeake Landing, MD 6 mi

Chestertown vs Other Cities

Chestertown, MD vs Kingstown, MD Chestertown, MD vs Worton, MD Chestertown, MD vs Butlertown, MD Chestertown, MD vs Fairlee, MD Chestertown, MD vs Chesapeake Landing, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chestertown, MD affordable or expensive?

Chestertown's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chestertown roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $302,200 and median rent is $982/month.

What is the crime rate in Chestertown, MD?

Chestertown's violent crime rate is 231.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1851.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chestertown?

Public schools in Chestertown are operated by Kent County Public Schools. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1. 43.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chestertown, MD a good place to live?

Chestertown, MD has a population of 5,522, a median household income of $43,980, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. 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 Chestertown?

Chestertown averages 40.8°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.0 inches with about 16.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Chestertown?

The population of Chestertown, Maryland is 5,522 with a median age of 32.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chestertown?

Key numbers for living in Chestertown: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $302,200, median household income $43,980, crime index 72 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chestertown side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.