What are the schools like in Chester, SC?

Chester is served primarily by Chester 01. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Chester?

The median household income in Chester, SC is $39,951 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.2%.

What is the weather like in Chester, SC?

Chester has an average high temperature of 52.2°F in January and 90.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Chester, SC affordable or expensive?

Chester's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chester is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $99,000 and the median rent is $756 per month.

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

Chester has a violent crime rate of 1554.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3280.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chester, SC a Good Place to Live?

Chester is a small town of 5,260 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $39,951 and a 10.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 97.0

Chester's overall cost of living index is 97.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chester costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chester, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$99,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$756	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$39,951	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Chester's violent crime rate is 1554.1 per 100,000 residents — 309% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1554.1 /100k

Property Crime

3280.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Chester is served primarily by Chester 01. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chester, SC	National Avg
School District	Chester 01	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	10.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chester sees average highs of 52.2°F in January and 90.1°F in July, with 45.9 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chester, SC
Average High — January	52.2°F
Average High — July	90.1°F
Annual Precipitation	45.9"
Annual Snowfall	0.1"

Demographics

Metric	Chester, SC	National Avg
Population	5,260	—
Median Age	33.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	36.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	61.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.8%	6.3%
Under 18	23.3%	22.2%
65 and over	15.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Eureka Mill, SC 1 mi Gayle Mill, SC 1 mi Lowrys, SC 7 mi Richburg, SC 11 mi McConnells, SC 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Chester

Chester, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

29706

Chester vs Other Cities

Chester, SC vs Eureka Mill, SC Chester, SC vs Gayle Mill, SC Chester, SC vs Lowrys, SC Chester, SC vs Richburg, SC Chester, SC vs McConnells, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chester, SC affordable or expensive?

Chester's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chester roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $99,000 and median rent is $756/month.

What is the crime rate in Chester, SC?

Chester's violent crime rate is 1554.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3280.9 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 01. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 10.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chester, SC a good place to live?

Chester, SC has a population of 5,260, a median household income of $39,951, and an unemployment rate of 10.2%. 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 52.2°F in January and 90.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.9 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chester?

Chester, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29706.

What is the population of Chester?

The population of Chester, South Carolina is 5,260 with a median age of 33.5. 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 97 (100 = US average), median home $99,000, median household income $39,951, crime index 308 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. 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.