Your life in Chester County, South Carolina

What stands out

Three things set Chester County apart from the other 3,142 counties: life expectancy is in the bottom 3% of American counties (69.3 years), the overdose death rate is in the top 4% of American counties (47 per 100,000), and the school test score is in the bottom 7% of American counties (2.53 where 3.0 is grade level). Within South Carolina it ranks 5th of 46 counties for life expectancy, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Chester County, South Carolina. 32,171 people live here with you. The population grew 0.7% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +399).

South Carolina has a two-bracket income tax with a top rate of 5.21% for 2026, does not tax Social Security, and exempts up to $10,000 of retirement income per person. Owner-occupied homes are assessed at 4% instead of 6%, which keeps property taxes among the lowest in the country. Charleston, Greenville and the coastal counties have drawn heavy in-migration; hurricane exposure runs the length of the coast.

Money

The typical household here brings in $50,022 a year, lower than 79% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $58,462. Unemployment runs 4.3%, higher than 76% of American counties. 4% of workers work from home.

South Carolina takes 3.3% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,640 a year.

Home

The median home costs $214K, cheaper than 58% of American counties, about 2.2 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $783 a month. Property tax is 0.56% of home value, roughly $753 a year on that median home, lower than 81% of American counties. 77% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.4 per 1,000 residents, higher than 79% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 47 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 69.3 years, shorter than 97% of American counties. There are 15 active physicians in the county, about 4.7 per 10,000 people. 13.1% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.52 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 93% of American counties. 85% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 17 points. 63% of eligible voters turned out. Under South Carolina law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 62°F, highs near 73 and lows near 50, warmer than 72% of American counties. About 38 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 48 out of 100, safer than 51% of American counties; the county has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 160 Mbps down, slower than 67% of American counties. There is 1 airport in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.6 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• South Carolina tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.