Population 50,437 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Chester
Household size in Chester
| Period | Chester | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.63 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.74 | 2.63 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.54 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | −0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.63 people per household, Chester sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in the Richmond area as a whole, where it has 2.54 people. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the west.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.3 | 38.2 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 40.0 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.0 | 39.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.7 | +1.4 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
At 40.0, the median age in Chester is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 39.3, a smaller shift than nationally. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 12.4% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 12.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 11.3% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.3% | 12.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +0.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Chester as they are nationally: 12.3%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.8% | 31.5% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.5% | 33.8% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.5% | 34.4% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.3% | 33.0% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Chester own their homes; 25.3% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 31.7% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.6 points, 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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 9.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 10.1% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 8.1% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Chester: just 5.6% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 1.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1988 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1979 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1980 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1998 | 1984 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Chester is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1998, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1988 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Chester has newer homes than at least four in five Virginia cities.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,072 | $1,006 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,232 | $1,097 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,361 | $1,248 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,816 | $1,608 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$744 | +$602 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Chester costs $1,816 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $744 a month from 2006–10, a 69% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.0% of household income on rent, just over 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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.3% | 33.0% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.2% | 34.4% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.5% | 38.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.4% | 41.0% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Chester as nationally: 36.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in the Richmond area overall (41.0%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.1 points, as it has nationally.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.9% | 86.5% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.0% | 88.1% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.8% | 90.0% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.5% | 92.3% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Chester is above the national rate: 92.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Richmond area. The share with a diploma is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 7.1% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 8.2% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 5.2% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Chester has been strong: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.0 points from 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 | 2.63 | 40.0 | 12.3% | 25.3% | 5.6% | 1998 | $1,816 | 36.4% | 92.5% | 3.3% |
| Bellwood | 2.81 | 34.1 | 18.9% | 58.4% | 11.0% | 1983 | $1,302 | 15.9% | 75.5% | 4.6% |
| Colonial Heights | 2.54 | 40.2 | 14.9% | 27.3% | 8.1% | 1975 | $1,581 | 31.1% | 92.6% | 4.8% |
| Kenwood | 1.77 | 39.9 | 23.4% | 50.1% | 100.0% | 1994 | $1,145 | 2.4% | 75.3% | 23.4% |
| Deerfield Estates | 2.55 | 35.6 | 19.1% | 28.7% | 1.3% | 1984 | $1,554 | 19.5% | 88.7% | 2.4% |
| Enon | 2.50 | 40.5 | 17.5% | 32.0% | 5.2% | 1988 | $1,653 | 32.6% | 91.6% | 0.9% |
| Meadowbrook | 2.86 | 36.8 | 16.0% | 24.6% | 6.5% | 1982 | $1,726 | 25.1% | 83.6% | 5.6% |
| Varina | 2.10 | 60.7 | 5.5% | 2.4% | 6.2% | 1983 | $1,722 | 38.0% | 91.7% | 0.0% |
| Bensley | 2.72 | 30.0 | 31.0% | 59.1% | 6.4% | 1969 | $1,249 | 16.0% | 73.7% | 5.7% |
| Matoaca | 2.52 | 47.6 | 9.9% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 1985 | $1,523 | 24.6% | 92.8% | 3.6% |
| Highland Park | 2.78 | 44.9 | 7.4% | 7.2% | 2.8% | 2007 | $1,361 | 44.2% | 96.7% | 0.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Jeffersonville, IN · El Centro, CA · New Albany, IN · Cuyahoga Falls, OH · Downingtown, PA · Morganton, NC · Grapevine, TX · Hurst, TX · Lagrange, GA · Lake Stevens, WA
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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