Chester

Population: 33,209
Median household income: $39,809
Median home value: $85,400

Chester is a community in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, home to 33,209 residents. The median household income of $39,809 is below the Delaware County median ($88,576).

Between 2019 and 2023, Chester's population declined 2.3% from 33,982 to 33,209, while its median home value rose 18.0% from $72,400 to $85,400.

Black or African American residents are the largest group, 70.9% of the population. 61.3% of workers drive to work alone.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 33,209
Median age: 33.3 yrs
Median household income: $39,809
Median home value: $85,400
Median gross rent: $1,080
Housing units: 14,845
Homeownership rate: 40.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 13.3%
Unemployment rate: 17.6%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

33,98233,209

Median household income

$32,403$39,809

Median home value

$72,400$85,400

Median gross rent

$860$1,080

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	33,982	$32,403	$72,400	$860
2020	33,855	$32,867	$70,300	$878
2021	32,819	$35,751	$71,300	$929
2022	33,048	$39,193	$80,800	$996
2023	33,209	$39,809	$85,400	$1,080

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 56.7%

5 to 1717.3%

18 to 2414.5%

25 to 3413.9%

35 to 4411.5%

45 to 548.7%

55 to 6412.5%

65 to 749.7%

75 and over5.2%

	Count	Share
Under 5	2,231	6.7%
5 to 17	5,729	17.3%
18 to 24	4,828	14.5%
25 to 34	4,603	13.9%
35 to 44	3,811	11.5%
45 to 54	2,900	8.7%
55 to 64	4,154	12.5%
65 to 74	3,230	9.7%
75 and over	1,723	5.2%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	4,740	14.3%
Black or African American	23,530	70.9%
American Indian & Alaska Native	6	0.0%
Asian	253	0.8%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	487	1.5%
Two or more races	1,018	3.1%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,175	9.6%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma13.9%

High school graduate48.8%

Some college or associate's24.0%

Bachelor's degree9.0%

Graduate or professional degree4.2%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	2,838	13.9%
High school graduate	9,972	48.8%
Some college or associate's	4,903	24.0%
Bachelor's degree	1,846	9.0%
Graduate or professional degree	862	4.2%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 22 min

Drove alone61.3%

Carpooled10.9%

Public transit9.6%

Walked7.8%

Bicycle0.1%

Worked from home8.6%

Other means1.6%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	7,441	61.3%
Carpooled	1,326	10.9%
Public transit	1,169	9.6%
Walked	946	7.8%
Bicycle	18	0.1%
Worked from home	1,041	8.6%
Other means	190	1.6%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	3,653	32.9%
15 to 29 min	4,540	40.9%
30 to 44 min	1,394	12.6%
45 to 59 min	827	7.5%
60+ min	676	6.1%

Households

Average household size: 2.40
Poverty rate: 30.8% (9,377 of 30,429)

	Count	Share
Family households	6,648	52.9%
Nonfamily households	5,929	47.1%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1947

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	12,577	84.7%
Vacant	2,268	15.3%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	5,146	40.9%
Renter-occupied	7,431	59.1%

1-unit, detached8.2%

1-unit, attached65.2%

2 to 4 units11.7%

5 to 19 units8.8%

20 or more units6.2%

Mobile home & other0.0%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	1,220	8.2%
1-unit, attached	9,673	65.2%
2 to 4 units	1,737	11.7%
5 to 19 units	1,299	8.8%
20 or more units	916	6.2%
Mobile home & other	0	0.0%

Geography

Place GEOID: 4213208
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 4.83 sq mi
Water area: 1.17 sq mi
Center point: 39.8456, -75.3719