The typical owner-occupied home in Chester County is worth about $485,600, 91% above the Pennsylvania median of $254,500 and 46% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,308 a year in property taxes, about 1.30% of their home's value, close to the Pennsylvania rate of 1.30%. The median household earns $127,208 a year, so the median home costs 3.8 times the median income (3.3 times for Pennsylvania). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Chester County at a glance
| Chester County | Pennsylvania | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $485,600 | $254,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $6,308 | $3,311 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.30% | 1.30% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $127,208 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 75% | 69% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 67% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,660 | $1,762 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.3% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,763 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.1% | 29.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1983 | 1965 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 3.6% | 9.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 547,840 | 13,018,639 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Chester County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Chester County home of $485,600 with 20% down costs about $3,342 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,151, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $143,217 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 32% of the median Chester County household income of $127,208; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $431,000.
The median rent here is $1,763 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,579 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $97,120 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $388,480 |
| Principal and interest | $2,613 |
| Property taxes (1.30% a year) | $526 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $202 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,342 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $16,996 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $476,805 |
| Principal and interest | $3,207 |
| Property taxes (1.30% a year) | $526 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $202 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $215 |
| Total per month | $4,151 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Chester County
What is the median home value in Chester County?
About $485,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Chester County?
Homeowners pay a median $6,308 a year, which is about 1.30% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Chester County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,342 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $143,217 a year.
More about Chester County
- Mortgage Refinance in Chester County
- Debt Relief in Chester County
- Home Equity Loans in Chester County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data