1st Advantage MortgageThe median Chester County household earns $59,341, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Chester County
- Income in Chester County compared with Tennessee
- Rent, home values and ownership in Chester County
- Jobs and commutes in Chester County
- Regional comparison for Chester County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Chester County
- People and households in Chester County
- Before borrowing in Chester County
- A Chester County household budget, worked through
- Who licenses lenders for Chester County residents
- Four steps for Chester County borrowers
- More guides for Chester County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Chester County
With an estimated 17,611 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Chester County ranks 73rd of 95 in Tennessee for population. Packed into 286 square miles, that is close to 62 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Jackson, TN metropolitan area. Henderson is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 6,411 people (36% of the county total).
Income in Chester County compared with Tennessee
Chester County households have a median income of $59,341 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 48th of 95 in Tennessee.
| Households earning | Chester County | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.2% | +9.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.4% | -1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.2% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -3.7 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. 16.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.455 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Chester County
A typical Chester County rental runs $756 a month including utilities, which is 36% below Tennessee. By the Census definition, 38% of Chester County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $164,400, a typical Chester County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 75% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1989.
| Home costs | Chester County | Tennessee | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $756/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $164,400 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 10% | 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).
Jobs and commutes in Chester County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 19%. Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Only 3.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Chester County workers | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.9% | +6.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.9% | +4.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.2% | +4.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.5% | -4.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Chester County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Chester County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 31 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Chester County; Madison County is highest at $60,042 and Decatur County lowest at $45,375.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester County | - | $59,341 | $756/mo | 75% |
| McNairy County, TN | 17 mi | $53,473 | $723/mo | 80% |
| Madison County, TN | 18 mi | $60,042 | $1,123/mo | 62% |
| Henderson County, TN | 20 mi | $55,136 | $745/mo | 73% |
| Hardeman County, TN | 25 mi | $46,069 | $812/mo | 72% |
| Hardin County, TN | 28 mi | $49,956 | $775/mo | 78% |
| Decatur County, TN | 31 mi | $45,375 | $757/mo | 74% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Chester County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Chester County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 6,982 residents, leaving about 60% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Chester County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson | city | 6,411 | $45,938 | $781 | 3 mi |
| Milledgeville | town | 299 | $56,042 | $617 | 14 mi |
| Enville | town | 163 | n/a | $632 | 10 mi |
| Silerton | town | 81 | $41,607 | $625 | 12 mi |
| Jacks Creek | CDP | 28 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
People and households in Chester County
22% of Chester County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Chester County | All of Tennessee | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.0% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.7% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.1% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Chester County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.6% |
| 60+ min | 3.8% |
Before borrowing in Chester County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Chester County borrowers.
- Vehicle repairs. 18% of Chester County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Chester County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
A Chester County household budget, worked through
Here is the Chester County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,945 before taxes
- Less median rent of $756, which is 15% of it
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,370 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Chester County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for Chester County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Chester County borrowers answers to the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Tennessee guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Chester County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Chester County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Chester County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Chester County?
$59,341 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 48th of 95 in the state.
What do renters pay in Chester County?
$756 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
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.
I live in a small Chester County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Henderson, Milledgeville, Enville, Silerton, Jacks Creek.
Will a Chester County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Tennessee as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.