Chester, SC Demographics

A map of Chester's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	3,253	3,448	62.3%	65.4%
White	1,649	1,449	31.6%	27.5%
Multiracial	140	182	2.7%	3.5%
Hispanic	127	120	2.4%	2.3%
Asian	49	42	0.9%	0.8%
Native American/Other	0	28	0.0%	0.5%

Chester, South Carolina has an estimated population of 5,218, a less than 1% change from the 5,269 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 62.3% Black, 31.6% White, 2.7% Multiracial, 2.4% Hispanic, 0.9% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. 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 more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than South Carolina 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 49.4% in 2020 and 51.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Chester is ranked the 101st most populous place in South Carolina, out of 475 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 100th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Chester's White Population

1,649 residents of Chester, or 31.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Chester is significantly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 61.9% of the population is White. Chester ranks 410th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's White population has grown by an estimated 13.8%. White residents' share of Chester's population has increased from 27.5% to 31.6%.

Chester is more White than neighboring Eureka Mill (28.9% White), and Richburg (17.4% White). Chester is less White than neighboring Gayle Mill (60% White), Lowrys (73.9% White), and McConnells (80.7% White).

Chester's Black Population

3,253 residents of Chester, or 62.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Chester is significantly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 24.6% of the population is Black. Chester ranks 60th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's Black population has declined by an estimated 5.7%. Black residents' share of Chester's population has decreased from 65.4% to 62.3%.

Chester is more Black than neighboring Gayle Mill (35.1% Black), Lowrys (4.3% Black), and McConnells (16.5% Black). Chester is less Black than neighboring Eureka Mill (65.7% Black), and Richburg (78.1% Black).

Chester's Asian Population

49 residents of Chester, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Chester is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Chester ranks 166th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's Asian population has grown by an estimated 16.7%. Asian residents' share of Chester's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Chester is more Asian than neighboring Eureka Mill (0% Asian), Gayle Mill (0% Asian), Lowrys (0% Asian), and McConnells (0% Asian). Chester is less Asian than neighboring Richburg (2% Asian).

Chester's Hispanic Population

127 residents of Chester, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Chester is slightly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Chester ranks 313th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 5.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Chester's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.4%.

Chester is more Hispanic than neighboring McConnells (1.1% Hispanic), and Richburg (1.8% Hispanic). Chester is less Hispanic than neighboring Eureka Mill (3.9% Hispanic), Gayle Mill (4.8% Hispanic), and Lowrys (16.5% Hispanic).

Chester's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Chester, or 0.0% 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 South Carolina overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Chester ranks 305th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Chester's population has decreased from 0.5% to 0.0%.

Chester's Multiracial Population

140 residents of Chester, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Chester is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Chester ranks 248th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chester's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 23.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Chester's population has decreased from 3.5% to 2.7%.

Chester is more Multiracial than neighboring Eureka Mill (1.5% Multiracial), Gayle Mill (0.1% Multiracial), McConnells (1.8% Multiracial), and Richburg (0.8% Multiracial). Chester is less Multiracial than neighboring Lowrys (5.3% 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.