Chester is a city located in Chester County South Carolina. Chester has a 2024 population of 5,211. Chester is currently declining at a rate of -0.31% annually and its population has decreased by -1.18% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 5,273 in 2020.
The average household income in Chester is $45,536 with a poverty rate of 23.82%. The median age in Chester is 33.5 years: 31.9 years for males, and 34.6 years for females.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Chester was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 3,230 | 61.41% |
| White | 1,929 | 36.67% |
| Two or more races | 58 | 1.1% |
| Asian | 43 | 0.82% |
| Native American | 0 | 0% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0 | 0% |
| Other race | 0 | 0% |
Black or African American
White
Two or more races
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Other race
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 2,248 | 2.31 | 48 | 52 |
| Non Family | 1,098 | 1.13 | 42.1 | 57.9 |
| Married | 550 | 2.99 | 63.3 | 36.7 |
| Female | 458 | 3.69 | 48 | 52 |
| Male | 142 | 4.35 | 35.2 | 64.8 |
3.25
Average Family Size
2.31
Average Household Size
48.0%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 554 | 15.3% |
| Associates Degree | 492 | 13.59% |
| Bachelors Degree | 340 | 9.39% |
| Graduate Degree | 52 | 1.44% |
| High School Graduate | 1,118 | 30.88% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 91 | 2.51% |
| Some College | 974 | 26.9% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 2,297 | 1,744 | 210 |
| White | 1,215 | 1,129 | 146 |
| Hispanic | 50 | 50 | 15 |
| Asian | 43 | 43 | 18 |
| 2+ Races | 29 | 23 | 3 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among asian people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 41.86%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $57,063 | $58,382 | $39,297 |
| Graduate Degree | $61,058 | $0 | $0 |
| High School Graduate | $35,385 | $37,450 | $32,733 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $22,826 | $33,636 | $15,759 |
| Overall | $32,156 | $37,571 | $26,890 |
| Some College | $30,941 | $34,345 | $28,300 |
$32,156
Average Earnings
$37,571
Average Male
$26,890
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
97.56% of Chester residents speak only English, while 2.44% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 1.39% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 3,155 | 993 | 31.47% |
| White | 1,858 | 209 | 11.25% |
| Multiple | 54 | 24 | 44.44% |
| Hispanic | 72 | 13 | 18.06% |
23.82%
Overall Poverty Rate
20.44%
Male Poverty Rate
27.05%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Chester is Multiple, with 44.44% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Chester is White, with 11.25% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 4.74%. Among those working part-time, it was 15.13%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 40.38%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 32.06% |
| High School | 22.52% |
| Some College | 20.67% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 8.16% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 75.19% |
| Male Employed | 10.29% |
| Female Employed | 6.59% |
| Male Unemployed | 0% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $49,583 | $51,902 |
| Households | $39,951 | $45,536 |
| Married Families | $65,871 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $24,474 | $31,229 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
28.2%
Overall Marriage Rate
26.4%
Male Marriage Rate
30.0%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 15-19.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
282
Number of Veterans
244
Male Veterans
38
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 110 |
| Second Gulf War | 52 |
| First Gulf War | 30 |
| World War II | 27 |
| Korea | 8 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 55 to 64 | 105 |
| 65 to 74 | 77 |
| 75+ | 65 |
| 35 to 54 | 35 |
| 18 to 34 | 0 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 179 | 7.07% |
| White | 103 | 7.2% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
15.96%
Veteran Poverty Rate
52.48%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
56.6%
Labor Force Participation
50.9%
Employment Rate
10.2%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
80.7%
Born in Chester
99.77%
Native Born
0.23%
Foreign Born
0%
Non Citizen
0.23%
Naturalized
99.77% of Chester residents were born in the United States, with 80.7% having been born in South Carolina. 0% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Europe.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 5,135 | -15 | -0.29% |
| 2028 | 5,150 | -15 | -0.29% |
| 2027 | 5,165 | -16 | -0.31% |
| 2026 | 5,181 | -15 | -0.29% |
| 2025 | 5,196 | -15 | -0.29% |
| 2024 | 5,211 | -16 | -0.31% |
| 2023 | 5,227 | 29 | 0.56% |
| 2022 | 5,198 | -38 | -0.73% |
| 2021 | 5,236 | -37 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 5,273 | -94 | -1.75% |
| 2019 | 5,367 | -23 | -0.43% |
| 2018 | 5,390 | -15 | -0.28% |
| 2017 | 5,405 | -9 | -0.17% |
| 2016 | 5,414 | -27 | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 5,441 | -11 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 5,452 | -53 | -0.96% |
| 2013 | 5,505 | -1 | -0.02% |
| 2012 | 5,506 | -35 | -0.63% |
| 2011 | 5,541 | -50 | -0.89% |
| 2010 | 5,591 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 6,476 | -682 | -9.53% |
| 1990 | 7,158 | 338 | 4.96% |
| 1980 | 6,820 | -225 | -3.19% |
| 1970 | 7,045 | 139 | 2.01% |
| 1960 | 6,906 | 13 | 0.19% |
| 1950 | 6,893 | 501 | 7.84% |
| 1940 | 6,392 | 864 | 15.63% |
| 1930 | 5,528 | -29 | -0.52% |
| 1920 | 5,557 | 803 | 16.89% |
| 1910 | 4,754 | 679 | 16.66% |
| 1900 | 4,075 | 1,372 | 50.76% |
| 1890 | 2,703 | -2,432 | -47.36% |