Very AffordableVery SafeChester-Joplin-Inverness El
Town of Chester, Montana (39044532942) · USDA NRCS Montana / Public domainFirst State Bank of Chester, Montana · Publichall / CC BY-SA 3.0Liberty County Courthouse2 · J.B. Chandler / CC BY-SA 3.0
Chester is a small town of 774 in Montana, with a median household income of $52,750
and a 0.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Chester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), 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: 89.2
Chester's overall cost of living index is 89.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Chester costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Chester, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$161,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$662
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
52.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$52,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Chester's violent crime rate is 42.8 per 100,000 residents
— 89% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
42.8 /100k
Property Crime
256.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Chester is served primarily by Chester-Joplin-Inverness El.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Chester, MT
National Avg
School District
Chester-Joplin-Inverness El
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Chester sees average highs of 28.7°F in January
and 82.5°F in July,
with 12.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.5 inches of snow per year.
Chester's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Chester roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $161,200 and median rent is $662/month.
Chester's violent crime rate is 42.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 256.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Chester are operated by Chester-Joplin-Inverness El.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. 24.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Chester, MT has a population of 774, a median household income of $52,750, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%.
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 28.7°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.3 inches
with about 36.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Chester, Montana is 774 with a median age of 49.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Chester: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $161,200, median household income $52,750, crime index 12 (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.
.jpg)
