Chester County, South Carolina Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Chester County, South Carolina, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Chester County, South Carolina. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Chester County, South Carolina. The estimated population of Chester County, South Carolina is 32,273 people, with a median age of 41.8.

We can look at the total population in Chester County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
32,273
+0.04%
-0.47%
2020
32,260
 -0.16% -
2019
32,311
 -0.05% -
2018
32,326
 -0.3% -
2017
32,424
 - -

Population of Chester County, South Carolina by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
58%
58.9%
 -1.53%
Black/African American
37%
36.4%
 +1.65%
Native
0.4%
0.3%
 +33.33%
Hispanic
2.2%
1.9%
 +15.79%
Asian
0.5%
0.4%
 +25.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
1.6%
2.2%
 -27.27%
Other
0.3%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Chester County, South Carolina by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 41.8 -0.24% 39.9 0% 43.2 -0.69%
2020 41.9 -0.24% 39.9 -1.24% 43.5 -0.23%
2019 42 +1.2% 40.4 +0.5% 43.6 +2.11%
2018 41.5 -0.72% 40.2 -1.23% 42.7 -1.84%
2017 41.8 - 40.7 - 43.5 -

The median age of Chester County, South Carolina gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,928 +2.63% 2,028 -6.24% 1,957 1,899
10 to 19 2,305 +2.61% 1,834 +7.87% 2,347 1,975
20 to 29 1,973 -11.02% 1,902 -3.11% 1,753 1,838
30 to 39 1,527 +18.79% 1,901 -1.25% 1,834 1,874
40 to 49 2,106 -16.66% 2,013 +1.58% 1,776 2,041
50 to 59 2,453 -12.67% 2,573 -6.68% 2,149 2,401
60 to 69 2,082 +9.15% 2,160 +6.01% 2,278 2,289
70+ 1,476 +10.49% 2,163 +3.19% 1,633 2,229

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Chester County, South Carolina is $46,441.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Chester County.

  • Under 25
    $33,475.00
  • 25 to 44
    $54,145.00
  • 45 to 64
    $52,366.00
  • 65 and over
    $33,769.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Chester County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Chester County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Chester County, South Carolina is currently $60,123.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

1.75% of households in Chester County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Chester County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    27.90%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    25.28%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    21.42%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    9.90%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    10.39%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    3.36%
  • $200,000 or more
    1.75%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Chester County is $24,399.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Chester County by the total population of Chester County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Chester County, South Carolina, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Chester County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    6.38%
  • Bachelor's degree
    15.40%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    9.79%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    63.06%
  • Less than high school diploma
    5.37%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Chester County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Chester County over the age of 16 is 26,111.

Of those people, a total of 54.80% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Chester County is 51.20%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 2,016 35.60% 13.20%
20 to 24 years 1,567 69.00% 5.80%
25 to 29 years 2,024 84.40% 5.50%
30 to 34 years 1,795 90.10% 10.60%
35 to 44 years 3,668 75.10% 4.00%
45 to 54 years 4,359 70.00% 6.40%
55 to 59 years 2,253 59.40% 2.40%
60 to 64 years 2,504 47.60% 4.90%
65 to 74 years 3,615 18.80% 1.30%
75 years and over 2,310 6.90% 11.90%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Chester County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 16,096 54.20% 4.40%
Black or African American 9,293 55.10% 8.80%
American Indian and Alaska Native 89 76.40% 0.00%
Asian 154 91.60% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 29 86.20% 8.00%
Two or more races 450 51.60% 4.70%
Hispanic or Latino 565 35.60% 1.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 15,699 54.70% 4.50%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Chester County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Chester County is 13,375, with median earnings of $32,757.00.

Women in Chester County, South Carolina earning approximately 72.30% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 13,375 $32,757.00
Male 6,539 $39,020.00
Female 6,836 $28,201.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 848 $49,107.00
Business and Financial 257 $43,490.00
Computer and Mathematical 153 $69,814.00
Architecture and Engineering 97 $72,721.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 45 $73,542.00
Community and Social Service 224 $46,875.00
Legal 54 $56,081.00
Educational and Library 675 $30,952.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 90 $6,250.00
Healthcare Practitioners 441 $51,490.00
Healthcare Support 452 $21,842.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 367 $38,375.00
Law Enforcement 175 $28,880.00
Food Preparation and Serving 677 $16,963.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 619 $26,831.00
Personal Care and Service 338 $16,490.00
Sales 1,367 $25,057.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,437 $34,466.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 62 $28,362.00
Construction and Extraction 699 $38,342.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 634 $44,819.00
Production 1,997 $35,618.00
Transportation and Material Moving 579 $32,730.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 386 $61,667.00 462 $38,750.00
Business and Financial 69 $44,875.00 188 $41,250.00
Computer and Mathematical 84 $88,889.00 69 $69,229.00
Architecture and Engineering 78 $74,118.00 19 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 19 $98,542.00 26 $56,250.00
Community and Social Service 101 $41,841.00 123 $52,443.00
Legal 6 $0.00 48 $55,878.00
Educational and Library 153 $19,909.00 522 $31,479.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 56 $4,122.00 34 $11,184.00
Healthcare Practitioners 55 $72,656.00 386 $51,442.00
Healthcare Support 2 $0.00 450 $21,974.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 305 $40,434.00 62 $31,071.00
Law Enforcement 119 $29,714.00 56 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 258 $14,079.00 419 $20,266.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 430 $30,667.00 189 $20,625.00
Personal Care and Service 25 $16,250.00 313 $16,492.00
Sales 458 $42,917.00 909 $20,865.00
Office and Administrative Support 229 $47,798.00 1,208 $33,537.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 33 $21,375.00 29 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 674 $39,022.00 25 $21,250.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 596 $44,384.00 38 $0.00
Production 1,139 $47,865.00 858 $31,376.00
Transportation and Material Moving 539 $33,191.00 40 $9,583.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 12,672 households in Chester County, with an average household size of 2.54 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 8,426 families in Chester County with an average family size of 3.14 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 5,670 702 2,054 4,246
Average Household Size 3.05 3.5 3.64 1.16
Total Families 5,670 702 2,054 0
Average Household Size 3.04 3.14 3.43 0

Poverty

Of the 8,426 families in Chester County, 15.80% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Chester County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 14,623 housing units in Chester County, South Carolina.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 12,672 86.66%
Vacant 1,951 13.34%

16.15% of the total 14,623 housing units in Chester County are rental units. This is approximately 2,362 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 9,998 are occupied by the owner - or 68.37% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Chester County is $736.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Chester County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    312
  • Less than $500
    387
  • $500 to $999
    1,654
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    304
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    17
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Chester County is $104,900.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Chester County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    1,707
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    3,105
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,559
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1,591
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,249
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    603
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    153
  • $1,000,000 or more
    31

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Chester County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Chester County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,380
  • 1940 to 1949
    734
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,680
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,816
  • 1970 to 1979
    2,091
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,882
  • 1990 to 1999
    3,234
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,195
  • 2010 to 2013
    591
  • 2014 or later
    20

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Chester County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    946
  • 1 vehicle available
    3,656
  • 2 vehicles available
    4,381
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    3,689

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Chester County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Chester County that commute to work in a particular way.

30.2 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Chester County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    419
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,174
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    1,233
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,429
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,531
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    571
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,951
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    547
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    779
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    1,816
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    966
  • 90 or more minutes
    277

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Chester County, South Carolina in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Chester County, South Carolina

We have data for 12 places in Chester County, South Carolina. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.