Chester, IL
Census place 1713139 · pop 6,797
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-18.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
10.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
21.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
43.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
21.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
15.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.62% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
29.9% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$80,625 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
40 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
76/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
74.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
45 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
268 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$111,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
Not measured for Chester: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Chester, IL a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Chester scores 53/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is population growth (5yr). Illinois overall ranks #39 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Chester, IL?
- Chester reports 45 violent crimes per 100k and 268 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Chester, IL expensive to live in?
- Chester has a median home value of $111,700 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Chester, IL?
- Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-18.5%) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Chester, IL best at?
- Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($111,700) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.