The typical owner-occupied home in Chester County is worth about $164,400, 43% below the Tennessee median of $286,700 and 51% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $856 a year in property taxes, about 0.52% of their home's value, close to the Tennessee rate of 0.50%. The median household earns $59,341 a year, so the median home costs 2.8 times the median income (4.1 times for Tennessee). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 53% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Chester County at a glance
| Chester County | Tennessee | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,400 | $286,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $856 | $1,442 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.52% | 0.50% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $59,341 | $69,595 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 75% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 53% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,202 | $1,566 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.7% | 19.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $756 | $1,189 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 24.7% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1989 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 11.7% | 10.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 17,611 | 7,066,383 | 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 $164,400 with 20% down costs about $1,024 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,298, 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 $43,906 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Chester County household income of $59,341; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $222,000.
The median rent here is $756 a month, so owning the median home costs about $268 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $32,880 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $131,520 |
| Principal and interest | $885 |
| Property taxes (0.52% a year) | $71 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $68 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,024 |
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| Down payment | $5,754 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $161,422 |
| Principal and interest | $1,086 |
| Property taxes (0.52% a year) | $71 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $68 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $73 |
| Total per month | $1,298 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Chester County
What is the median home value in Chester County?
About $164,400 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 $856 a year, which is about 0.52% 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 $1,024 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $43,906 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