1st Advantage MortgageChester County households have a median income of $52,458 and median rent of $853 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Chester County
- Household income in Chester County
- What it costs to live in Chester County
- How Chester County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Chester County
- The counties around Chester County
- A Chester County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Chester County borrowers
- Chester County households compared
- A Chester County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Chester County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Chester County
Chester County is home to about 32,182 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 28th most populous of 46 county-level areas in South Carolina. Land area is 581 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 55 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (5 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Chester, with about 5,218 residents, or 16% of the county.
Household income in Chester County
At $52,458, the typical Chester County household income is 20% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 28th of 46.
| Households earning | Chester County | +/- vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +7.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.5% | +7.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.6% | -8.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -6.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 18% of Chester County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 18.7%, 5 points higher than the state's 14.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.441 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Chester County
A typical Chester County rental runs $853 a month including utilities, which is 28% below South Carolina. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. With a median value of $158,300, a typical Chester County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%.
| Home costs | Chester County | South Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $853/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $158,300 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 26% | n/a |
Because most Chester County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Chester County residents earn a living
Manufacturing employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. Manufacturing stands out: 21% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Chester County averages 5.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). 25% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.3% of the total (5.7% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Chester County | Gap to South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.2% | +8.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.8% | -4.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.3% | +2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -3.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Chester County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 37% of Chester County residents live in one of the 7. Incomes vary by place: $60,288 at the median in Fort Lawn, $30,458 in Great Falls. Median rent ranges from $542 in Eureka Mill to $1,355 in Fort Lawn. No Chester County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | city | 5,218 | $46,138 | $902 | 3 mi |
| Eureka Mill | CDP | 1,813 | $36,486 | $542 | 3 mi |
| Great Falls | town | 1,690 | $30,458 | $867 | 17 mi |
| Fort Lawn | town | 1,388 | $60,288 | $1,355 | 15 mi |
| Gayle Mill | CDP | 974 | $41,274 | $645 | 5 mi |
| Richburg | town | 397 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Lowrys | town | 303 | $80,781 | $2,143 | 9 mi |
The counties around Chester County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. York County leads the group on income ($89,095), Union County trails ($41,621), and Chester County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester County | - | $52,458 | $853/mo | 78% |
| York County, SC | 19 mi | $89,095 | $1,387/mo | 75% |
| Fairfield County, SC | 20 mi | $47,885 | $938/mo | 75% |
| Union County, SC | 26 mi | $41,621 | $804/mo | 71% |
| Lancaster County, SC | 26 mi | $78,869 | $959/mo | 83% |
| Cherokee County, SC | 36 mi | $50,288 | $869/mo | 74% |
| Newberry County, SC | 37 mi | $61,780 | $872/mo | 73% |
A Chester County household budget, worked through
Chester County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $4,372 gross per month ($52,458 / 12)
- Median rent: $853, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 40% cap, $1,749 total minus rent leaves $896
Two-income households and single earners in Chester County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Chester County borrowers
A few patterns in the Chester County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 12% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 25% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Chester County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 24% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 19% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Chester County households compared
14% of Chester County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 12% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Chester County | South Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.0% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.7% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.7% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Chester County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.3% |
A Chester County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Chester County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A South Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Chester County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Chester County, check the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. Consumer lending in South Carolina is also overseen by the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on South Carolina: South Carolina personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chester County a high-income county?
Its $52,458 median ranks 28th of 46 South Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Chester County rent compare with South Carolina?
$853 locally versus $1,180 for the state, 28% below.
Should Chester County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% 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 Chester?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Chester County, such as Eureka Mill, Great Falls, Fort Lawn.
Does living in Chester County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Chester County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.