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City · 24,474 residents · Chesterfield County, Virginia

Chester , Virginia

In Chester, a typical home is worth $327,200 and typical rent is $1,603 a month. Compared with all of Chesterfield County, the typical home value is 11% lower, typical household income is 7% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 5 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $327,200

    11% below the county

    15% below Virginia

    • Chester
    • Chesterfield
    • Virginia

  • Typical rent

    $1,603a month

    About the same as the county

    About the same as Virginia

    • Chester
    • Chesterfield
    • Virginia

  • Typical household income

    $95,104a year

    7% below the county

    2% above Virginia

    • Chester
    • Chesterfield
    • Virginia

  • Households that own their home

    71%

    5 points below the county

    4 points above Virginia

    • Chester
    • Chesterfield
    • Virginia

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$391,335
2.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,829 a month
1.9% more than 12 months ago

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

Chester is in Chesterfield County. The FHA loan limit ($707,250 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Chesterfield 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 Ettrick, the typical home value is $211,200: 35% less than in Chester ($327,200).

  2. Nearby, in Bellwood, the typical rent is $1,059: 34% less than in Chester ($1,603).

  3. 71% of households in Chester own their home, against 77% in Chesterfield County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

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 are the majority in Chester (68%), but less so than in Chesterfield County (78%).

There are more mobile homes here than in Chesterfield County: 5% of homes, against 1%.

Year built

In Chester, half of the homes were built before 1990; in Chesterfield County, before 1990.

There are fewer big homes in Chester than in Chesterfield County: 76% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 81%.

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

$1,739 a month

Chesterfield County: $1,933 a month

Without a mortgage

$566 a month

Chesterfield County: $612 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

Chesterfield County: 73%

Owning costs less in Chester: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,739 a month; in Chesterfield County, $1,933. Without one, $566.

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

Homes in Chester gained value more slowly than in Chesterfield County: 48% since 2015–2019, against 52%.

The typical rent in Chester rose 34% over the same time; in Chesterfield County, it rose 30%.

To compare: typical income in Chester rose 35%; the home, +48%; the rent, +34%.

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

MeasureChesterChesterfield CountyVirginiaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.3%4.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.6%2.1%3.4%
People per household 2.612.662.522.53
Drive alone 73%71%68%69%
Carpool 8%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home 17%20%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Chester look like those in Chesterfield County: 2.61 people on average.

The car rules in Chester: 73% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 20 to 29 minutes.

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 tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Chester, worth $327,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 34% of the typical household income in Chester, which is $95,104 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $114,084 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Chesterfield 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 $11,452 (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

$2,662

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$321,274
Total interest
$462,237
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,526 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,219 a month

  • Tight

    $2,219 to $2,853 a month

    Your payment · 34%

  • Hard

    more than $2,853 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Chester ($95,104 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,662
Principal & interest$2,176
Property tax$205
Home insurance$136
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$145

You need at least $11,452 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 Chesterfield County

Chester is in Chesterfield County, Virginia. 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
$327,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,603
Typical yearly household income
$95,104
Households that own their home
71%
Effective property tax rate
0.75%

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

Numbers for all of Chesterfield County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$707,250
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,651
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+57%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.7%

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 Chesterfield County.

Everything about Chesterfield County

Buying

Buying a home in Chester

A typical home in Chester is worth $327,200: 11% below the county and 15% below Virginia. With the typical household income in Chester ($95,104 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 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 3.4 years
  • Chesterfield 3.6 years
  • Virginia 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Chesterfield County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Chesterfield County rose 96% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Virginia U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.8% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +57% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +96% +75% +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 Chesterfield County, Virginia and the U.S.

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

Typical home value
  • Chester $327,200
  • Chesterfield $366,000
  • Virginia $383,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Chester $1,603
  • Chesterfield $1,629
  • Virginia $1,579
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Chester $95,104
  • Chesterfield $101,931
  • Virginia $93,170
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Chester next to Chesterfield County and Virginia
Measure Chester Chesterfield County Virginia U.S.
Typical home value $327,200 $366,000 $383,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,603 $1,629 $1,579 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $95,104 $101,931 $93,170 $80,734
Households that own their home 71% 77% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,470 $2,773 $2,790 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.75% 0.76% 0.73% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 48% 52% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Chesterfield 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 $327,200 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 $2,662a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $11,452
    Cash to close
    $21,268
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $145

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,602a month

    Down payment
    $16,360
    Cash to close
    $26,176
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $155

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,114a month

    Down payment
    $65,440
    Cash to close
    $75,256
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,417a month

    Down payment
    $49,080
    Cash to close
    $58,896
    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 Chesterfield County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Chester

0.75%of the home’s value each year

$2,470 a year for the typical owner in Chester.

  • Chester 0.75%
  • Chesterfield 0.76%
  • Virginia 0.73%

What Virginia publishes Local exemption or deferral for people 65 and older or with disabilities (Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia))

Exemptions and deadlines in Virginia

Flood risk in Chesterfield County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.7%
922
Of those, with NFIP insurance
26%
County Virginia U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.7% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 26% 100% 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 $1,603 a month: about the same as the county. In Chester, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Chesterfield County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,651 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $31.75 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Chesterfield 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 $1,456 $28.00 $58,240
1 bedroom $1,517 $29.17 $60,680
2 bedrooms $1,651 $31.75 $66,040
3 bedrooms $2,039 $39.21 $81,560
4 bedrooms $2,499 $48.06 $99,960

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 23831.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,840: $189 more than the fair market rent for Chesterfield County ($1,651).

  • 23831 $1,840$2,270

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 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Chester. These are the largest.

  • Grand Oaks 5301 Grand Oaks Forest Cir, Chester 23831 184 low-income homes · 1 bd: 48 · 2 bd: 63 · 3 bd: 73 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • Arbor Lake 6706 Arbor Lake Dr, Chester 23831 126 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 68 · 3 bd: 34 · In service since 1998 · For families
  • Chester Village Green 11701 Chester Village Dr, Chester 23831 163 homes, 125 low-income · 1 bd: 65 · 2 bd: 98 · In service since 2006 · For older adults
  • Iron Bridge Road 6700 Iron Creek Cir, Chester 23831 80 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 64 · In service since 2017 · For families
  • Broadwater II 15076 Broadwater Way, Chester 23831 73 low-income homes · In service since 2005 · For families

See all 32 buildings in Chesterfield 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.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Chesterfield County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

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 Chesterfield County. The ones below are statewide in Virginia: they work in Chester the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Virginia

  • Down Payment Assistance Grant

    Statewide in Virginia

    Virginia state agency down payment grant that you do not repay; for first-time buyers, or any buyer in economic opportunity zones, with a Virginia Housing mortgage. Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

  • Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage

    Statewide in Virginia

    Virginia Housing 30-year fixed-rate second mortgage of up to 5% of the price for the down payment (and part of the closing costs with a credit score of 680 or higher); for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before. Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Closing Cost Assistance Grant

    Statewide in Virginia

    Virginia Housing grant that you do not repay, of up to 2% of the price, for the closing costs of buyers with a Virginia Housing RD (Rural Development) or VA loan. Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).

    Grant

    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.

  • Commonwealth Catholic Charities

    510 W Poythress St, Hopewell · 9 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (804) 285-5986

  • QUIN RIVERS, INC DBA Thrive Virginia

    211 Rocketts Way, Henrico · 11 miles away

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 3 more
    (804) 362-6835

  • Southside Community Development and Housing

    1624 Hull St, Richmond · 12 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (804) 231-4449

Every agency in Chesterfield County All counseling agencies in Virginia

Help in Spanish near Chester

2 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 lists no housing authority with an office in Chesterfield County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Virginia Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Chesterfield County

These cities are also in Chesterfield County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Chesterfield County Housing in Virginia

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Chesterfield 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
A father smiles as he carries his baby on his shoulders outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Chester

Short answers with the numbers for Chester and all of Chesterfield 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 $327,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Chesterfield County it is $366,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Chester?

Typical rent in Chester is $1,603 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Chesterfield County is $1,651.

What is the FHA loan limit in Chester?

Chester uses the FHA limit for all of Chesterfield County (2026): $707,250 for a one-unit home and $1,360,100 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Chester?

The typical homeowner in Chester pays $2,470 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.75% of the home’s value; in Chesterfield County, the rate is 0.76%.

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

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Chesterfield County. 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).