Population 1,096 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Chester
Household size in Chester
| Period | Chester | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.65 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.64 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Chester has 2.53 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Even so, the typical household here is bigger than in Montana overall, where it has 2.44 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.65, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.8 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.0 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.6 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | −7.4 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Chester are younger than 40.4 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1.
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 | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.8% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.8% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Chester: 5.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.8% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.4% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 40.2% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Chester rent their homes (40.2%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. About two-thirds of owners (66.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.3% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.9% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.7% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −13.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Chester: 13.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Montana as a whole looks much the same.
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 | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +7 | +6 |
Chester is a place of older homes: half were built before 1967, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $384 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $503 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $595 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $811 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$426 | +$487 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Chester costs $811 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 28.0% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.2% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.5% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in Chester (29.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%.
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 | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.5% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.3% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 70.3% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.8% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.3 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Chester never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S.
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 | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 0.0% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.0% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.8% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Chester has been low: just 0.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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 | 2.53 | 40.4 | 5.4% | 40.2% | 13.3% | 1967 | $811 | 29.5% | 84.8% | 0.8% |
| Lothair | 2.45 | 39.0 | 10.3% | 34.0% | 14.2% | 1966 | $662 | 25.8% | 82.0% | 0.3% |
| Joplin | 2.49 | 37.5 | 13.6% | 28.9% | 14.3% | 1964 | $573 | 22.9% | 81.3% | 0.2% |
| Inverness | 2.54 | 45.6 | 10.7% | 21.7% | 21.8% | 1955 | $640 | 25.7% | 91.7% | 1.7% |
| Rudyard | 2.54 | 45.2 | 10.9% | 22.0% | 21.4% | 1955 | $635 | 25.5% | 91.2% | 1.6% |
| Whitlash | 2.48 | 36.9 | 14.6% | 27.1% | 14.3% | 1964 | $546 | 22.1% | 80.7% | 0.0% |
| Ledger | 2.21 | 45.2 | 3.5% | 41.1% | 17.7% | 1972 | $785 | 30.6% | 85.3% | 0.7% |
| Hingham | 2.54 | 45.6 | 10.7% | 21.7% | 21.8% | 1955 | $640 | 25.7% | 91.7% | 1.7% |
| Galata | 2.19 | 45.3 | 3.9% | 32.2% | 22.5% | 1963 | $914 | 32.9% | 90.1% | 0.4% |
| Gildford | 2.54 | 45.7 | 10.7% | 21.5% | 21.9% | 1956 | $645 | 25.6% | 91.7% | 1.7% |
| Square Butte | 2.25 | 46.6 | 1.2% | 34.6% | 27.4% | 1970 | $391 | 22.0% | 95.7% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Jane, MO · Sheldon, MO · Seelyville, IN · Round Lake, NY · Rose Valley, PA · Rochester, VT · Rhea, AR · Reynolds, ND · Red Oak, OK · Moenave, AZ
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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