What are the schools like in Chester, NJ?

Chester is served primarily by Chester Township School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.5:1.

What is the median household income in Chester?

The median household income in Chester, NJ is $142,857 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Chester, NJ?

Chester has an average high temperature of 39.3°F in January and 86.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 29.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Chester, NJ affordable or expensive?

Chester's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chester is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $614,700 and the median rent is $1,508 per month.

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

Chester has a violent crime rate of 27.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 220.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chester, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Chester is a small town of 1,480 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $142,857 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Chester stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. 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: 112.5

Chester's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chester costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Chester, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$614,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,508	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$142,857	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Chester's violent crime rate is 27.0 per 100,000 residents — 93% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

27.0 /100k

Property Crime

220.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Chester is served primarily by Chester Township School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chester, NJ	National Avg
School District	Chester Township School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	59.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chester sees average highs of 39.3°F in January and 86.2°F in July, with 48.9 inches of annual precipitation and 29.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chester, NJ
Average High — January	39.3°F
Average High — July	86.2°F
Annual Precipitation	48.9"
Annual Snowfall	29.6"

Demographics

Metric	Chester, NJ	National Avg
Population	1,480	—
Median Age	45.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.0%	6.3%
Under 18	20.1%	22.2%
65 and over	20.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Flanders, NJ 4 mi Long Valley, NJ 5 mi Succasunna, NJ 5 mi Mendham, NJ 5 mi Peapack and Gladstone, NJ 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Chester

Chester, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

07930

Chester vs Other Cities

Chester, NJ vs Flanders, NJ Chester, NJ vs Long Valley, NJ Chester, NJ vs Succasunna, NJ Chester, NJ vs Mendham, NJ Chester, NJ vs Peapack and Gladstone, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chester, NJ affordable or expensive?

Chester's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Chester roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $614,700 and median rent is $1,508/month.

What is the crime rate in Chester, NJ?

Chester's violent crime rate is 27.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 220.0 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 Chester Township School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.5:1. 59.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chester, NJ a good place to live?

Chester, NJ has a population of 1,480, a median household income of $142,857, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. 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 Chester?

Chester averages 39.3°F in January and 86.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.9 inches with about 29.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chester?

Chester, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 07930.

What is the population of Chester?

The population of Chester, New Jersey is 1,480 with a median age of 45.0. 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 112 (100 = US average), median home $614,700, median household income $142,857, crime index 8 (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.