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City · 6,797 residents · Randolph County, Illinois

Chester , Illinois

In Chester, a typical home is worth $111,700 and typical rent is $760 a month. Compared with all of Randolph County, typical household income is 18% higher and the typical home value is 17% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $111,700

    17% below the county

    58% below Illinois

    • Chester
    • Randolph
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $760a month

    3% below the county

    40% below Illinois

    • Chester
    • Randolph
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $80,625a year

    18% above the county

    3% below Illinois

    • Chester
    • Randolph
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    74%

    3 points below the county

    7 points above Illinois

    • Chester
    • Randolph
    • Illinois

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$113,528
1.8% less than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Chester is in Randolph County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Randolph County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Chester apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Pinckneyville, the typical rent is $416: 45% less than in Chester ($760).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Chester fell 1.8%; in Illinois, it rose 5.3%.

  3. Chester has the 17th lowest typical rent of the 331 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people ($760).

  4. Nearby, in Du Quoin, the typical home value is $83,100: 26% less than in Chester ($111,700).

  5. The typical household income in Chester is $80,625, 18% more than in Randolph County as a whole ($68,131).

  6. The typical home in Chester is worth $111,700, 17% less than in Randolph County as a whole ($135,100).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Chester

What homes there are in Chester, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 86% of homes here, against 75% in Randolph County.

Year built

Homes in Chester are older: the typical year built is 1957; in Randolph County, 1972.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,096 a month

Randolph County: $1,308 a month

Without a mortgage

$511 a month

Randolph County: $485 a month

Owners with a mortgage

51%

Randolph County: 50%

In Chester, 51% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,096 a month, against $1,308 in Randolph County. Without one it drops to $511.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Chester did not change clearly: the difference is within the Census margin of error.

The typical rent in Chester stayed about the same over that time: the difference is within the Census margin of error.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureChesterRandolph CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.162.252.462.53
Drive alone 85%81%66%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate10%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate6%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate5%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Chester look like those in Randolph County: 2.16 people on average.

In Chester, 85% of workers drive alone to work; in Randolph County, 81%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Chester?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Chester, worth $111,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 15% of the typical household income in Chester, which is $80,625 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Randolph County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Chester. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $3,910 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$990

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$109,676
Total interest
$157,799
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,886 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,881 a month

    Your payment · 15%

  • Tight

    $1,881 to $2,419 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,419 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Chester ($80,625 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$990
Principal & interest$743
Property tax$151
Home insurance$47
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$49

You need at least $3,910 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Chester and Randolph County

Chester is in Randolph County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Chester's own numbers

Typical home value
$111,700
Typical monthly rent
$760
Typical yearly household income
$80,625
Households that own their home
74%
Effective property tax rate
1.62%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Randolph County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$930
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+40%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Randolph County.

Everything about Randolph County

Buying

Buying a home in Chester

A typical home in Chester is worth $111,700: 17% below the county and 58% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Chester ($80,625 a year), a typical home costs 1.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Chester 1.4 years
  • Randolph 2.0 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Randolph County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Randolph County rose 57% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Randolph County.

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +10.3% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +40% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +57% +65% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Chester next to Randolph County, Illinois and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Chester $111,700
  • Randolph $135,100
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Chester $760
  • Randolph $780
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Chester $80,625
  • Randolph $68,131
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Chester next to Randolph County and Illinois
Measure Chester Randolph County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $111,700 $135,100 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $760 $780 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $80,625 $68,131 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 74% 77% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,807 $1,927 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.62% 1.43% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 36% 44% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Randolph County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Chester

For a typical $111,700 home in Chester, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Chester's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $990a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $3,910
    Cash to close
    $7,261
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $49

  • Conventional, 5% down $969a month

    Down payment
    $5,585
    Cash to close
    $8,936
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $53

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $803a month

    Down payment
    $22,340
    Cash to close
    $25,691
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $906a month

    Down payment
    $16,755
    Cash to close
    $20,106
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Chester and for Randolph County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Chester

1.62%of the home’s value each year

$1,807 a year for the typical owner in Chester.

  • Chester 1.62%
  • Randolph 1.43%
  • Illinois 2.01%

What Illinois publishes General Homestead Exemption (Illinois Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Randolph County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Randolph County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.4%
360
Of those, with NFIP insurance
31%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.4% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 31% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Chester

Typical rent in Chester is $760 a month: 3% below the county. In Chester, 36% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Randolph County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($930 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $17.88 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Randolph County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $648 $12.46 $25,920
1 bedroom $711 $13.67 $28,440
2 bedrooms $930 $17.88 $37,200
3 bedrooms $1,164 $22.38 $46,560
4 bedrooms $1,469 $28.25 $58,760

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Chester

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Chester is in ZIP code 62233.

For 2 bedrooms it is $980: $50 more than the fair market rent for Randolph County ($930).

  • 62233 $980$1,230

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Chester when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Chester

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Chester. These are the largest.

  • Koeneman Acres 214 Opdyke St, Chester 62233 221 homes, 218 low-income · Run by Randolph County Housing Authority · Average payment: $336 a month · Average wait: 11 months · Homes at several sites (618) 826-4314
  • Manor at Craig Farms 3030 State St, Chester 62233 40 low-income homes · Studio: 24 · 1 bd: 16 · In service since 2007 · For older adults
  • Chesterton Manor 1420 Court St, Chester 62233 24 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 4 · In service since 1993 · For families

See all 4 buildings in Randolph County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Chester

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Randolph County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother pushes her grandson on a playground swing.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Chester

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Chester or Randolph County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Chester the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Illinois

  • IHDAccess Home

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with deferred payments for first-time buyers in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Forgivable

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan forgiven little by little over ten years, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Deferred

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Chester

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Chester, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Urban League of Metropolitan ST. Louis - ST. Clair County Operations

    10220 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights · 47 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    618-274-1150-126

  • Madison County Urban League

    408 E Broadway Street, Alton · 69 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 5 more
    618-463-1906-222

  • C.e.f.s. Fayette County Outreach Office

    517 W. Gallatin Street, Vandalia · 82 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (618) 283-2631

All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Chester

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Chester

HUD’s record names them for Chester or Randolph County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Randolph County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (618) 826-4314

All housing agencies in Illinois Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Chester, with the typical home value.

Everything about Randolph County Housing in Illinois

Neighboring counties

If Randolph County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Chester.

All guides
Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

Questions

Housing questions about Chester

Short answers with the numbers for Chester and all of Randolph County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Chester?

The typical home value in Chester is $111,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Randolph County it is $135,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Chester?

Typical rent in Chester is $760 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Randolph County is $930.

What is the FHA loan limit in Chester?

Chester uses the FHA limit for all of Randolph County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Chester?

The typical homeowner in Chester pays $1,807 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.62% of the home’s value; in Randolph County, the rate is 1.43%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Chester?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Randolph County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).