The Town FilesChester, Illinois
City in Randolph County · population 6,814 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,700
- Household income
- $80,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 43.5
Chester is a city of 6,814 people in Randolph County, Illinois. The median home is worth $111,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Illinois towns.
How Chester ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chester is worth $111,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $80,625, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $760 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chester | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $760 | $960 |
| Median household income | $80,625 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Chester
| People | Chester | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 12.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Chester
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 24.0°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 99 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on February 28, 2017 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 57 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 20, 1976.
Severe weather in Randolph County since 1996
Randolph County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Randolph County
Randolph County had 11,393 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,632 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Chester itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Chester
3 public schools with 968 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chester Elem School | PK-8 | 637 | 13.6 |
| Chester High School | 9-12 | 331 | 15.0 |
| Okaw Regional Voc System | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Chester
- Ste. Genevieve, MO12.6 mi · 4,999 people · home $172,400
- Perryville, MO14.0 mi · 8,555 people · home $179,700
- Sparta, IL15.7 mi · 4,095 people · home $111,200
- Red Bud, IL21.7 mi · 3,804 people · home $171,000
- Murphysboro, IL29.2 mi · 7,093 people · home $85,900
- Pinckneyville, IL29.4 mi · 5,066 people · home $133,500
Chester questions
Is Chester, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chester scores better for retirees than 32% of Illinois towns and quieter than 66%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.5).
How much does a house cost in Chester?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester is valued at $111,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,625, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $760 a month.
What is the weather like in Chester?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 24.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 12.0 inches of snow.
Does Chester get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on February 28, 2017. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)