Chester is a small town of 262 in Texas, with a median household income of $66,250
and a 6.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Chester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).
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
Index: 88.5
Chester's overall cost of living index is 88.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Chester costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Chester, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$115,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$625
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
84.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$66,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Chester's violent crime rate is 115.4 per 100,000 residents
— 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
115.4 /100k
Property Crime
724.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Chester is served primarily by CHESTER ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Chester, TX
National Avg
School District
CHESTER ISD
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Chester sees average highs of 61.7°F in January
and 94.7°F in July,
with 56.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Chester's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Chester roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $115,300 and median rent is $625/month.
Chester's violent crime rate is 115.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 724.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Chester are operated by CHESTER ISD.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.6:1. 18.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Chester, TX has a population of 262, a median household income of $66,250, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%.
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 61.7°F in January and 94.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.9 inches
with about 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Chester, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 75936.
The population of Chester, Texas is 262 with a median age of 47.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Chester: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $115,300, median household income $66,250, crime index 32 (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.