What are the schools like in Chester, SD?

Chester is served primarily by Chester Area School District 39-1. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.5:1.

What is the median household income in Chester?

The median household income in Chester, SD is $64,868 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.

What is the weather like in Chester, SD?

Chester has an average high temperature of 25.2°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 27.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 42.5 inches.

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

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

Chester has a violent crime rate of 109.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 617.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chester, SD a Good Place to Live?

Chester is a small town of 237 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $64,868 and a 5.3% unemployment rate.

Strengths: Chester stands out for below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include 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

Cost of living data is based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for the Chester metro area.

Metric	Chester, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$125,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	84.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$64,868	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Chester's violent crime rate is 109.4 per 100,000 residents — 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

109.4 /100k

Property Crime

617.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Chester is served primarily by Chester Area School District 39-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chester, SD	National Avg
School District	Chester Area School District 39-1	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chester sees average highs of 25.2°F in January and 83.3°F in July, with 27.4 inches of annual precipitation and 42.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chester, SD
Average High — January	25.2°F
Average High — July	83.3°F
Annual Precipitation	27.4"
Annual Snowfall	42.5"

Demographics

Metric	Chester, SD	National Avg
Population	237	—
Median Age	39.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.0%	22.2%
65 and over	10.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Brant Lake South, SD 1 mi Brant Lake, SD 2 mi Lake Madison, SD 6 mi Wentworth, SD 7 mi Colton, SD 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Chester

Chester, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57016

Chester vs Other Cities

Chester, SD vs Brant Lake South, SD Chester, SD vs Brant Lake, SD Chester, SD vs Lake Madison, SD Chester, SD vs Wentworth, SD Chester, SD vs Colton, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chester, SD affordable or expensive?

Chester has a median home value of $125,000 and median rent of N/A/month against a median household income of $64,868.

What is the crime rate in Chester, SD?

Chester's violent crime rate is 109.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 617.3 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 Chester Area School District 39-1. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1. 23.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chester, SD a good place to live?

Chester, SD has a population of 237, a median household income of $64,868, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%. 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 25.2°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.4 inches with about 42.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chester?

Chester, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57016.

What is the population of Chester?

The population of Chester, South Dakota is 237 with a median age of 39.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chester?

Key numbers for living in Chester: median home $125,000, median household income $64,868, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. 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.