Chester County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Chester County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Chester County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Chester County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $53,740 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,236 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.0% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.9% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Chester County is about 23% lower than in South Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Chester County (5.8%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Chester County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the South Carolina average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Chester County, South Carolina grew by 64.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $53,740 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Chester County
| Metric | Chester County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.519 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,501 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $38,231 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.5% | 21.2% | 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 County, it is 0.519, lower than South Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 40% more than women's income in Chester County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 40% wage gap accumulates to roughly $534,450 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chester County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 30% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2012, and was narrowest at 22% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,102 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Chester County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.5% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 30 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 837 people are unemployed in Chester County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Chester County is 30 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Chester County, South Carolina has fallen from 15.8% to 5.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 17.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.9% in 2020.
Chester County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Chester County, SC is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 32,186 residents against a local median of 56,649. The measure that sets Chester County, SC apart most is income growth: 5.8%/yr, 30% above the local median of 4.5%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.9%/yr on income growth, so Chester County, SC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Chester County, SC has the 3rd highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester County, SC | 32,186 | $53,740 #3/6 | 5.8%/yr #3/6 | 5.5% #4/6 | 0.519 #1/6 |
| York County, SC | 293,716 | $90,058 | 5.9%/yr | 4.1% | 0.534 |
| Fairfield County, SC | 20,550 | $47,611 | 4.4%/yr | 5.5% | 0.529 |
| Lancaster County, SC | 104,481 | $81,073 | 7.1%/yr | 4.3% | 0.545 |
| Union County, SC | 26,885 | $41,432 | 2.2%/yr | 7.9% | 0.528 |
| Cherokee County, SC | 56,649 | $50,370 | 4.5%/yr | 6.2% | 0.529 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Chester County, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with South Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Chester County, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Chester County, South Carolina?
Chester County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $53,740, about 23% lower than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
How fast is household income rising in Chester County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Chester County, South Carolina rose 64%, from $32,686 to $53,740. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Carolina as a whole: +64% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Chester County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Chester County, South Carolina was $51,502, up 3% from $50,016 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Chester County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Chester County, South Carolina was $43,964. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $53,740.
What is the Gini coefficient in Chester County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Chester County is 0.519. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Chester County, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chester County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 30% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2012, and was narrowest at 22% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,102 since 2009.
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