1st Advantage MortgageChester County households have a median income of $127,208 and median rent of $1,763 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Chester County
- Employment and commuting in Chester County
- Income in Chester County compared with Pennsylvania
- Renting and owning in Chester County
- Counties near Chester County
- Towns and communities in Chester County
- More Chester County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Chester County
- A Chester County household budget, worked through
- Checklist for Chester County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Chester County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Chester County
With an estimated 547,840 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Chester County ranks 7th of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. It covers 751 square miles of land, or about 730 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan area. West Chester is the biggest of its 44 Census places, at roughly 20,666 people (4% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Chester County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Chester County residents work in education and health care and 17% in professional and administrative services. Professional and administrative services stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 24% work from home. Only 4.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Chester County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | -4.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 17.1% | +5.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 11.2% | +4.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -0.9 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Income in Chester County compared with Pennsylvania
At $127,208, the typical Chester County household income is 94% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 1st among Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas.
| Household income | Chester County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 11.0% | -11.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 27.9% | -11.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.9% | +5.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 28.2% | +16.4 pts |
About 11% of households earn under $35,000, while 61% clear $100,000. 6.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.7%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.447 here. For a borrower in Chester County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Chester County
A typical Chester County rental runs $1,763 a month including utilities, which is 46% above Pennsylvania. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $485,600, a typical Chester County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 75% of Chester County households own their home and 25% rent. The median year built is 1983.
| Housing | Chester County | Pennsylvania statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,763/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $485,600 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.1% | 3.5% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Counties near Chester County
Distances run center to center, from Delaware County at 19 miles out to Berks County at 32. None of the six report a higher median household income than Chester County; Montgomery County is highest at $113,915 and Berks County lowest at $79,777. The list crosses into Delaware, Maryland, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester County | - | $127,208 | $1,763/mo | 75% |
| Delaware County, PA | 19 mi | $89,546 | $1,372/mo | 70% |
| Montgomery County, PA | 26 mi | $113,915 | $1,683/mo | 71% |
| Lancaster County, PA | 27 mi | $86,959 | $1,357/mo | 70% |
| New Castle County, DE | 28 mi | $91,166 | $1,448/mo | 69% |
| Cecil County, MD | 30 mi | $92,007 | $1,377/mo | 75% |
| Berks County, PA | 32 mi | $79,777 | $1,181/mo | 71% |
Towns and communities in Chester County
The table lists the 14 largest of 44 Census places in Chester County, by population. Together all 44 hold about 158,747 people, so roughly 71% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $59,256 in Coatesville to $219,063 in Devon. None of the 44 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Chester | borough | 20,666 | $78,385 | $1,731 | 8 mi |
| Phoenixville | borough | 19,452 | $102,138 | $1,735 | 16 mi |
| Coatesville | city | 13,353 | $59,256 | $1,471 | 4 mi |
| Downingtown | borough | 8,255 | $96,228 | $1,518 | 3 mi |
| Lionville | CDP | 7,683 | $100,582 | $1,916 | 8 mi |
| Exton | CDP | 6,772 | $120,697 | $2,202 | 7 mi |
| Paoli | CDP | 6,362 | $138,396 | $1,995 | 15 mi |
| Kennett Square | borough | 6,243 | $80,505 | $1,396 | 9 mi |
| Chesterbrook | CDP | 5,839 | $124,295 | $2,452 | 17 mi |
| Oxford | borough | 5,825 | $67,733 | $1,308 | 18 mi |
| Parkesburg | borough | 3,937 | $76,250 | $1,201 | 9 mi |
| Thorndale | CDP | 3,854 | $99,479 | $1,945 | 2 mi |
| Berwyn | CDP | 3,680 | $145,833 | $1,750 | 17 mi |
| Spring City | borough | 3,657 | $76,419 | $1,070 | 18 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
More Chester County figures
College graduates make up 57% of the adult population. 4.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Chester County | Pennsylvania | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 57.1% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.1% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 24.1% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.0% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Chester County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.7% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Chester County
What the Chester County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Keeping the car running. At 18% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Chester County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Higher earners. 61% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Chester County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Chester County household budget, worked through
Here is the Chester County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Chester County: $10,601
- Median rent: $1,763, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- $2,795: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Chester County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checklist for Chester County applicants
Quick steps for Chester County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Chester County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Pennsylvania license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Chester County
Consumer lenders serving Chester County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Pennsylvania that is the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Chester County earn?
The median is $127,208; 61% earn $100,000 or more and 11% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Chester County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,763 against $1,209 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Chester County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Chester County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover West Chester?
Yes, along with the other 43 Census places in Chester County, such as Phoenixville, Coatesville, Downingtown.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Chester County or elsewhere in Pennsylvania, the same rules apply.