Chester, IL Demographics

A map of Chester's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	4,632	4,572	68.1%	67.1%
Black	1,859	1,563	27.4%	22.9%
Hispanic	227	511	3.3%	7.5%
Multiracial	45	138	0.7%	2.0%
Native American/Other	34	14	0.5%	0.2%
Asian	0	16	0.0%	0.2%

Chester, Illinois has an estimated population of 6,797, a less than 1% change from the 6,814 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 68.1% White, 27.4% Black, 3.3% Hispanic, 0.7% Multiracial, 0.5% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Chester, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Chester has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Illinois overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Chester, that probability was 49.1% in 2020 and 46.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Chester is ranked the 290th most populous place in Illinois, out of 1,461 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Chester was ranked the 291st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Chester's White Population

4,632 residents of Chester, or 68.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Chester is higher than in Illinois overall, where 58.1% of the population is White. Chester ranks 1256th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's White population has grown by an estimated 1.3%. White residents' share of Chester's population has increased from 67.1% to 68.1%.

Chester is less White than neighboring Kaskaskia (92.1% White), Lithium (100% White), Ellis Grove (92.5% White), St. Mary (87.7% White), and Rockwood (100% White).

Chester's Black Population

1,859 residents of Chester, or 27.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Chester is considerably higher than in Illinois overall, where 13.3% of the population is Black. Chester ranks 78th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's Black population has grown by an estimated 18.9%. Black residents' share of Chester's population has increased from 22.9% to 27.4%.

Chester is more Black than neighboring Kaskaskia (0% Black), Lithium (0% Black), Ellis Grove (0% Black), St. Mary (3.2% Black), and Rockwood (0% Black).

Chester's Asian Population

0 residents of Chester, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Chester is lower than in Illinois overall, where 5.9% of the population is Asian. Chester ranks 878th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Chester's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Chester is less Asian than neighboring Kaskaskia (7.9% Asian).

Chester's Hispanic Population

227 residents of Chester, or 3.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Chester is significantly lower than in Illinois overall, where 18.8% of the population is Hispanic. Chester ranks 356th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 55.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Chester's population has decreased from 7.5% to 3.3%.

Chester is more Hispanic than neighboring Kaskaskia (0% Hispanic), Lithium (0% Hispanic), Ellis Grove (2.5% Hispanic), St. Mary (0.4% Hispanic), and Rockwood (0% Hispanic).

Chester's Native American/Other Population

34 residents of Chester, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Chester is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Chester ranks 1018th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 142.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Chester's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Chester is more Native American/Other than neighboring Kaskaskia (0% Native American/Other), Lithium (0% Native American/Other), St. Mary (0% Native American/Other), and Rockwood (0% Native American/Other). Chester is less Native American/Other than neighboring Ellis Grove (1.4% Native American/Other).

Chester's Multiracial Population

45 residents of Chester, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Chester is slightly lower than in Illinois overall, where 3.4% of the population is Multiracial. Chester ranks 1247th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 67.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Chester's population has decreased from 2.0% to 0.7%.

Chester is more Multiracial than neighboring Kaskaskia (0% Multiracial), Lithium (0% Multiracial), and Rockwood (0% Multiracial). Chester is less Multiracial than neighboring Ellis Grove (3.6% Multiracial), and St. Mary (8.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.