Chester County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026
Chester County, Pennsylvania has a population of 540,896, the 7th most populous county in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $123,041 and the median home value is $461,800. The poverty rate is 5.9%.
Chester County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 43 | National average: 60
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Chester County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Chester borough | 19,235 | $81,492 | 18.3% | $481,300 |
| Phoenixville borough | 19,062 | $94,411 | 8.4% | $348,200 |
| Coatesville city | 13,323 | $57,323 | 20.4% | $160,500 |
| Downingtown borough | 8,163 | $82,292 | 7.0% | $322,500 |
| Kennett Square borough | 6,096 | $74,259 | 4.5% | $347,700 |
| Parkesburg borough | 3,894 | $84,952 | 15.2% | $280,000 |
| Spring City borough | 3,551 | $73,323 | 15.2% | $253,400 |
| Malvern borough | 3,427 | $106,638 | 5.8% | $460,400 |
| West Grove borough | 2,791 | $79,577 | 14.8% | $291,900 |
| Honey Brook borough | 2,089 | $95,694 | 2.3% | $255,300 |
| South Coatesville borough | 1,843 | $72,976 | 17.4% | $253,900 |
| Elverson borough | 1,392 | $76,823 | 8.4% | $347,100 |
| Atglen borough | 1,319 | $100,000 | 22.8% | $289,900 |
| Modena borough | 348 | $80,938 | 7.2% | $175,000 |
Explore Pennsylvania Rankings
Population Overview
Chester County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 540,896. It is the 7th most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Chester County is 40.7 years. This is about average than the state median of 40.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Chester County is $123,041. This is 62% higher than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 57% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.9%. This is 50% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $461,800. Housing costs are 92% higher than the state median of $240,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 75.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 69.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Chester County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.2%. The Black or African American population (4.9%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.4% vs 3.7%).
Education
56.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Chester County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 64% higher than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.9%. Notably, 23.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Chester County, Pennsylvania?
Chester County has a population of 540,896, making it the 7th most populous county in Pennsylvania.
What is the median income in Chester County?
The median household income in Chester County is $123,041 with a poverty rate of 5.9%.
How many cities are in Chester County, Pennsylvania?
Chester County contains 14 Census-designated places.