IL area data
Chester, IL
Chester, IL.
Population: 8,326 (Census ACS)
The median home value in Chester, IL is $134,016 — up 3.7% over the past year. 3 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with strongwind, coldwave, earthquake the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 2.7% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$134,016
Median home value
+3.7%
1-year change
Relatively Low
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $134,016
- 1-year appreciation
- +3.7%
- 3-year appreciation
- +14.7%
- 5-year appreciation
- +31.3%
- 10-year appreciation
- +58.5%
- All-time peak (2026-06)
- $134,867
- House Price Index (state)
- 325.3 (+6.1% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- For-sale inventory
- 18
- New listings (monthly)
- 6
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Average)
- 97.3 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 17.7¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $11.30/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 3
- Elementary schools
- 1
- Middle schools
- 0
- High schools
- 2
- School districts serving the area
- Monroe/Randolph ROE, Chester CUSD 139
- Schools include
- Okaw Regional Voc System, Chester Elem School, Chester High School
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Low
- Top hazards (county)
- strongWind, coldWave, earthquake, hail, heatWave
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Relatively Low
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 14% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 37.0%
- Radon potential (county)
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 55.0°F
- Average high
- 67.0°F
- Average low
- 44.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 49.4 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 7a (extreme annual low 0 to 5°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 46
- Days with Good air quality
- 215
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 137
- Days with Unhealthy air quality
- 2
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 156
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 3
- Nearest national park
- Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park (13 mi)
- National parks include
- Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park, Gateway Arch National Park, Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
- Airports within 30 mi
- 21
- Nearest airport
- Riverveiw Airport (9 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport (BLV) (34 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 1
- Hospitals include
- MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.3 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- -107 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,962
- Housing built before 1970
- 60.1%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 12.2%
- Median annual property tax
- $1,853
- Mean commute to work
- 21 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 60.0%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 8,323
- Average weekly wage
- $950
- Top industries (by employment)
- Accommodation & Food, Construction, Other Services
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 8
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| Chester | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,016 | $195,432 | $289,727 |
| Median annual property tax | $1,853 | $2,696 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in Chester, IL?
- $134,016.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in Chester, IL?
- Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: strongWind, coldWave, earthquake, hail, heatWave.
- What is the wildfire risk in Chester, IL?
- Risk to homes is higher than 14% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in Chester, IL?
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near Chester, IL?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve Chester, IL?
- 3 schools (1 elementary, 2 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- What is the air quality in Chester, IL?
- Good. Median AQI: 46. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in Chester, IL?
- Regional Price Parity: 97.3 (100 = US average) (Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP code for Chester
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →