Population 6,567 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Chester
Household size in Chester
| Period | Chester | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.68 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.65 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.65 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.59 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.37 | −0.02 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Chester are small: just 2.31 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.68 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only 12 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Chester
| Period | Chester | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1 | 38.7 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.5 | 39.5 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.6 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.5 | 40.3 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.4 | +1.6 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.5, Chester is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 42.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only 17 are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Chester
| Period | Chester | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 12.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 12.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 11.5% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.9 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Chester: 5.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 5.9 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Chester has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Maryland cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Chester
Renters in Chester
| Period | Chester | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 32.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.4% | 33.5% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.9% | 33.5% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.4% | 33.1% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +1.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.4% of households in Chester rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly three in ten owners (28.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 4.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Chester
| Period | Chester | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 9.3% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 9.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.5% | 9.4% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.0% | 7.2% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −2.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Chester: 13.0% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have a higher vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Chester
| Period | Chester | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1971 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1972 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1973 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1975 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Chester is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1984 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Chester
| Period | Chester | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,022 | $1,179 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,422 | $1,293 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,593 | $1,477 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,762 | $1,778 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$740 | +$599 | +$620 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Chester costs $1,762 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $740 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 42.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Chester
Bachelor's degrees in Chester
| Period | Chester | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.9% | 35.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.9% | 37.3% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.5% | 40.8% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.6% | 44.1% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.7 pts | +8.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Chester than nationally: 40.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Even so, the share is lower than in the Baltimore area as a whole (44.1%). The share with a degree is up 13.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Chester
| Period | Chester | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.5% | 87.8% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.0% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 91.1% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.9% | 92.1% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Chester is above the national rate: 93.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.4 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Chester
| Period | Chester | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 8.3% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.4 pts | −1.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Chester has been strong: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 6.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Chester compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | 2.31 | 47.5 | 5.7% | 24.4% | 13.0% | 1988 | $1,762 | 40.6% | 93.9% | 3.0% |
| Stevensville | 2.64 | 45.5 | 7.1% | 15.5% | 8.1% | 1990 | $2,146 | 40.3% | 94.5% | 4.4% |
| Kent Narrows | 2.73 | 41.7 | 8.6% | 7.7% | 21.3% | 1998 | $1,690 | 52.0% | 98.9% | 0.2% |
| Grasonville | 2.75 | 42.8 | 9.6% | 16.3% | 19.5% | 1996 | $1,710 | 45.0% | 93.4% | 1.9% |
| Queenstown | 2.66 | 47.7 | 6.7% | 9.5% | 14.7% | 1983 | $1,814 | 43.9% | 92.8% | 2.5% |
| Romancoke on the Bay | 2.63 | 45.2 | 3.1% | 4.5% | 3.0% | 1981 | $2,675 | 40.3% | 95.4% | 9.0% |
| Claiborne | 1.96 | 60.2 | 9.6% | 3.5% | 28.6% | 1981 | $1,190 | 47.2% | 92.5% | 1.4% |
| Highland Beach | 2.61 | 51.5 | 3.1% | 9.1% | 7.9% | 1984 | $1,766 | 66.9% | 95.7% | 2.2% |
| Cape St. Claire | 2.79 | 40.0 | 13.2% | 11.7% | 3.6% | 1979 | $2,195 | 55.5% | 97.1% | 5.5% |
| Annapolis Neck | 2.48 | 49.5 | 4.7% | 21.4% | 7.6% | 1982 | $2,237 | 64.6% | 93.9% | 1.0% |
| Mcdaniel | 1.96 | 60.2 | 9.8% | 3.2% | 28.7% | 1981 | $1,193 | 46.9% | 92.4% | 1.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Palermo, CA · Idabel, OK · Ijamsville, MD · Independence, IA · Independence, OH · Indian Head, MD · Inola, OK · Inverness Highlands South, FL · Iron Station, NC · Jackson, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Chester. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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