The Town FilesChester, Virginia
Community in Chesterfield County · population 23,414 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $327,200
- Household income
- $95,104
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 38.7
Chester is a community of 23,414 people in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The median home is worth $327,200, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for cycling than 82% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 76% of Virginia towns.
How Chester ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chester is worth $327,200, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $95,104, which is more affordable than 69% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,603 a month. 71.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chester | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $327,200 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,603 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $95,104 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chester
| People | Chester | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.8% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 17.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Chester
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 6, 1993 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 294 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 1, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 87 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 27, 2017.
Severe weather in Chesterfield County since 1996
Chesterfield County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| December 18, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4411: Tropical Storm Michael |
Jobs and pay in Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County had 145,905 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,685 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Chester itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Chester
11 public schools with 9,709 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Dale High | 9-12 | 2,570 | 15.0 |
| Elizabeth Davis Middle | 6-8 | 1,325 | 14.4 |
| Carver Middle | 6-8 | 1,013 | 13.9 |
| Enon Elementary | PK-5 | 796 | 15.6 |
| C.E. Curtis Elementary | PK-5 | 772 | 14.6 |
| Ecoff Elementary | PK-5 | 757 | 14.8 |
| Elizabeth Scott Elementary | PK-5 | 757 | 14.8 |
| C.C. Wells Elementary | PK-5 | 582 | 14.9 |
| Harrowgate Elementary | PK-5 | 473 | 12.8 |
| Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy | PK-PK | 378 | 10.5 |
| Carver College and Career Academy | 9-12 | 286 | 7.3 |
Towns near Chester
- Bellwood, VA3.7 mi · 7,678 people · home $225,300
- Meadowbrook, VA5.9 mi · 20,898 people · home $298,500
- Enon, VA6.4 mi · 4,075 people · home $253,600
- Colonial Heights, VA6.6 mi · 18,170 people · home $246,600
- Bensley, VA6.6 mi · 5,971 people · home $218,500
- Ettrick, VA7.2 mi · 7,241 people · home $211,200
- Matoaca, VA8.5 mi · 2,655 people · home $251,000
- Hopewell, VA8.5 mi · 23,033 people · home $181,600
Chester questions
Is Chester, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chester scores better for retirees than 14% of Virginia towns and quieter than 38%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Chester?
The median owner-occupied home in Chester is valued at $327,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,104, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,603 a month.
What is the weather like in Chester?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.7 inches of snow.
Does Chester get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 6, 1993. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)