Chester County, South Carolina Demographics 2026
Chester County, South Carolina has a population of 32,177, the 28th most populous county in South Carolina. The median household income is $51,216 and the median home value is $143,800. The poverty rate is 19.3%.
Chester County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 54 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Chester County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | 5,241 | $41,231 | 25.0% | $106,400 |
| Great Falls | 1,741 | $30,475 | 33.5% | $59,400 |
| Eureka Mill | 1,732 | $35,980 | 40.9% | $177,100 |
| Fort Lawn | 1,144 | $54,141 | 13.8% | $189,000 |
| Gayle Mill | 1,119 | N/A | 32.0% | $26,800 |
| Richburg | 404 | N/A | 35.9% | $143,800 |
| Lowrys | 357 | $79,018 | 10.1% | $160,400 |
Explore South Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Chester County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 32,177. It is the 28th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Chester County is 42.2 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Chester County is $51,216. This is 23% lower than the state median of $66,818. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 19.3%. This is 36% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $143,800. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $236,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Chester County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 71.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Chester County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 35.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.
Education
13.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Chester County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against South Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Chester County, South Carolina?
Chester County has a population of 32,177, making it the 28th most populous county in South Carolina.
What is the median income in Chester County?
The median household income in Chester County is $51,216 with a poverty rate of 19.3%.
How many cities are in Chester County, South Carolina?
Chester County contains 7 Census-designated places.