Chester, Pennsylvania Income Statistics
Chester Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
F
Chester Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Chester | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $42,237 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $42,665 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 2.7% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.4% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Chester is about 46% lower than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing faster in Chester (5.5%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 3% of adults in Chester earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Chester, Pennsylvania grew by 69.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $42,237 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Chester
| Metric | Chester | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.550 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $43,316 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,455 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -7.2% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Chester, it is 0.550, higher than Pennsylvania's 0.537, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Women's income is about 7% more than men's income in Chester, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 7% wage gap accumulates to roughly $109,865 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chester, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 8% to -7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 12% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,911 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Chester | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 17.6% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.5% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 2,761 people are unemployed in Chester, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Chester is 20 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Chester, Pennsylvania has risen from 16.5% to 17.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 20.0% in 2014 and fell as low as 12.1% in 2019.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Chester, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it worse than Pennsylvania, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Chester, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Chester, Pennsylvania?
Chester has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $42,237, about 46% lower than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
Are incomes growing in Chester, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Chester, Pennsylvania rose 69%, from $24,986 to $42,237. Over the same years, income here outpaced Pennsylvania as a whole: +69% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Chester in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Chester, Pennsylvania was $39,868, up 1% from $39,306 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Chester in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Chester, Pennsylvania was $33,836. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $42,237.
Is it hard to find a job in Chester, Pennsylvania?
Unemployment in Chester, Pennsylvania is 17.6%, well above the Pennsylvania rate of 5.2%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Chester, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Chester is 0.550. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Chester, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chester, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 8% to -7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 12% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,911 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →