Chester County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Chester County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 17,452. It is the 74th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chester County is 37.8 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chester County is $60,543. This is 10% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.6%. This is 13% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $155,200. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $256,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Chester County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chester County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 9.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

19.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.7%.