HomeSouth CarolinaChester County
Chester County, South Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Chester County, South Carolina had an estimated 32,323 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 32,300, across 581 square miles. County output reached $1.82 bn in 2024, 560 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 9 7(a) approvals worth $6.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Chester County
How many people live in Chester County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202432,182
- Households13,159
- Average household size2.45
- Median household income$52,458
- Median age42.4
- Median gross rent$853 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$158,300
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher14.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over22,483
- Population under 187,183
- Share under 1822.3 percent
- Population 65 and over6,189
- Share 65 and over19.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6418,810
- Civilian labor force15,046
- Unemployment rate5.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.2 percent
- Rank by population among South Carolina counties28th of 46
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1416th of 3,222
Chester County is the 28th largest of 46 South Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.3 percent against 19.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Chester County
Is Chester County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202432,323
- Census 2020 base population32,300
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.07 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024160
- Births, 2024326
- Deaths, 2024558
- Natural change, 2024-232
- Net domestic migration, 2024378
- Net international migration, 202414
- Total net migration, 2024392
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024861
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1801st of 3,144
The county has grown 0.07 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Chester County
Where are people moving to Chester County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving806
- People arriving, from those returns1,560
- Tax returns filed by households leaving704
- Net household movement102
- Adjusted gross income arriving$44.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$11.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$54,984
- Average income of a leaving household$47,149
- Largest single originYork County (335 households)
- Largest single destinationYork County (275 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| York County | 335 | 659 | $19.9 m |
| Lancaster County | 95 | 207 | $3.7 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 67 | 117 | $6.9 m |
| Fairfield County | 25 | 51 | $907,000 |
| Richland County | 25 | 51 | $674,000 |
Households arriving report $7,835 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is York County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Chester County
What is the Chester County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.82 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.65 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202410.2 percent
- GDP change over five years53.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the South Carolina areas BEA publishes28th of 46
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1360th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$56,610
Output grew 10.2 percent in the latest year and 53.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Chester County
Employment by industry in Chester County
- Covered employment, annual average10,409
- Establishments reporting671
- Average annual pay$58,462
- Average weekly wage$1,124
- Manufacturing, employment3,567
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$67,231
- Wholesale trade, employment957
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$71,997
- Retail trade, employment865
- Retail trade, average annual pay$28,406
- Construction, employment774
- Construction, average annual pay$74,558
- Health care and social assistance, employment384
- Transportation and warehousing, employment282
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,567 | 56 | $67,231 |
| Wholesale trade | 957 | 36 | $71,997 |
| Retail trade | 865 | 104 | $28,406 |
| Construction | 774 | 54 | $74,558 |
| Health care and social assistance | 384 | 62 | $43,702 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 282 | 35 | $47,337 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 212 | 52 | $136,632 |
| Other services, except public administration | 186 | 50 | $37,325 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,567 jobs, 34.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Chester County
How many businesses are in Chester County?
- Establishments, all industries560
- Employment at those establishments8,824
- Annual payroll$459.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Chester County
Building permits in Chester County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024269
- Declared construction value permitted$91.1 m
- Single family units authorized269
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$338,662
- Units authorized per 1,000 households20.4
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Chester County
SBA loans in Chester County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded9
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$6.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$714,778
- Median 7(a) approval$385,000
- Largest single approval$2,075,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)69
- Jobs per approval7.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active8
- Distinct industries receiving approvals9
- Median 7(a) term121 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer44.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter4
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals33.3 percent
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$946,000
- Average 504 approval$473,000
- Median 504 approval$473,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval6.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.7
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$7.4 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chester County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Chester County
Do SBA loans in Chester County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure5
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 2 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chester County
SBA lending by place in Chester County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Chester, approvals4
- Richburg, approvals2
- Blackstock, approvals2
- Great Falls, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Chester | 4 | $2,354,000 |
| Richburg | 2 | $3,529,000 |
| Blackstock | 2 | $300,000 |
| Great Falls | 1 | $250,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chester County
How large is Chester County?
- Land area581 sq mi
- Rank by land area among South Carolina counties25th of 46
- Width, east to west35.2 mi
- Height, north to south19.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land55
- Establishments per square mile0.96
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Chester County
Flood risk in Chester County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Chester County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 450047
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Chester County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Chester County (community 450047), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Chester County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Chester County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Chester County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202432,182
- Households13,159
- Average household size2.45
- Median household income$52,458
- Median age42.4
Common questions
Chester County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Chester County, South Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 32,323 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 32,182, in 13,159 households, ranking 28th of 46 South Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Chester County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.07 percent since the 2020 census base of 32,300, to 32,323 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 326 births against 558 deaths, with net migration of 392. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Chester County?
$52,458. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $158,300, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $853 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Chester County?
560 establishments, employing 8,824 people with an annual payroll of $459.1 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Chester County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,567 jobs, 34.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 10,409 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,462, or $1,124 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Chester County?
9 7(a) approvals totaling $6.4 m since FY2020, across 8 lenders, with a median approval of $385,000, plus 2 504 approvals worth $946,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Chester County?
269 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $91.1 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Chester County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Chester County come from?
The largest single origin is York County, with 335 households. Arriving households report an average income of $54,984 against $47,149 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Chester County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Chester County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Chester County
Cities and places in Chester.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Chester County. All 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | city | 5,218 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Eureka Mill | CDP | 1,813 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Great Falls | town | 1,690 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Lawn | town | 1,388 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gayle Mill | CDP | 974 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Richburg | town | 397 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Lowrys | town | 303 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 9 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Chester County, the largest being Blackstock (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.