Chester County, SC Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Chester County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,124 | 5,341,662 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 54.8 | 166.9 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.12% | 1.07% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 43.0 | 40.1 | 37.1 |
| Households | 12,926 | 2,071,127 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Chester County declined by 1.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 32,177 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Chester County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Chester County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,502 | $66,957 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.00% | 5.21% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Chester County is about 23% lower than in South Carolina.
Housing
| Metric | Chester County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $88,635 | $224,357 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $918 | $1,126 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.9% | 71.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Chester County is about 8.0 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $918 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Chester County spend about 61 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 253 hours, about 10.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Chester County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 30.4 | 22.2 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 60.8 | 44.4 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 253 | 185 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $7,850 | $5,740 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 10.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 7,051 | 9,507 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 506 | 1,499 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
South Carolina:
Greenwood County (16.5 min), Sumter County (18.1 min), Florence County (18.4 min).
Slowest:
McCormick County (33.3 min), Fairfield County (31.2 min), Allendale County (30.5 min).
The average commute time in Chester County is 30 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Chester County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Chester County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.0% | 28.2% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.48 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
South Carolina:
Charleston County (0.4), Beaufort County (0.3), Richland County (0.3).
Lowest:
Allendale County (0.1), Marlboro County (0.2), Chesterfield County (0.2).
Health
Chester County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Chester County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 73.8 | 75.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 20.9% | 19.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 23.0% | 21.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
South Carolina:
Beaufort County (0.8), Charleston County (0.8), Dorchester County (0.8).
Lowest:
Dillon County (0.8), Allendale County (0.8), Marlboro County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Chester County, South Carolina.
What is the population of Chester County, South Carolina?
The population of Chester County, South Carolina is 32,124, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Chester County, South Carolina?
The population density of Chester County, South Carolina is 54.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Chester County, South Carolina?
The median household income in Chester County, South Carolina is $51,502, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Chester County, South Carolina?
The median home price in Chester County, South Carolina is $88,635, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Chester County, South Carolina?
The unemployment rate in Chester County, South Carolina is 6.5%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.