The typical owner-occupied home in Chester is worth about $112,000, 31% below the West Virginia median of $162,600 and 66% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $933 a year in property taxes, about 0.83% of their home's value, higher than the West Virginia rate of 0.53%. The median household earns $56,607 a year, so the median home costs 2.0 times the median income (2.7 times for West Virginia). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 43% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Chester at a glance
| Chester | West Virginia | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,000 | $162,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $933 | $865 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.83% | 0.53% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $56,607 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 75% | 75% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 43% | 46% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $769 | $1,255 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.3% | 17.3% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $647 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.7% | 29.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1950 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 9.3% | 15.4% | 10.1% |
| Population | 2,179 | 1,778,373 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Chester
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Chester home of $112,000 with 20% down costs about $727 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $913, 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 $31,152 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 15% of the median Chester household income of $56,607; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $204,000.
The median rent here is $647 a month, so owning the median home costs about $80 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $22,400 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $89,600 |
| Principal and interest | $603 |
| Property taxes (0.83% a year) | $77 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $47 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $727 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $3,920 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $109,971 |
| Principal and interest | $740 |
| Property taxes (0.83% a year) | $77 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $47 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $50 |
| Total per month | $913 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Chester
What is the median home value in Chester?
About $112,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Chester?
Homeowners pay a median $933 a year, which is about 0.83% 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?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $727 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $31,152 a year.
More about Chester
- Mortgage Refinance in Chester
- Debt Relief in Chester
- Home Equity Loans in Chester
- 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