Chester County ranks solidly above national median
Chester County's composite score of 78.1 beats the national median of 50.0 by 56%, placing it in the 78th percentile nationwide. This strong performance reflects consistent advantages across multiple livability dimensions.
2 / 5
Exceeds Tennessee average across the board
Chester County's score of 78.1 surpasses Tennessee's state average of 76.3, ranking it in the upper third of Tennessee's county livability standings. This positions Chester County among the state's more desirable communities.
3 / 5
Balanced affordability with moderate incomes
Chester County combines a tax score of 87.1 (with 0.539% effective rate) and a cost score of 85.2 (median rent $714, median home value $155,200), creating accessible housing for middle-class households. A median household income of $60,543 provides solid local earning potential.
4 / 5
Income growth opportunities could expand
Chester County's income score of 22.9 reflects moderate earning levels that, while above the statewide norm, offer limited pathway to high wealth accumulation. Health, safety, school, and water quality assessments are still underway.
5 / 5
Ideal for working families seeking stability
Chester County appeals to middle-income families, teachers, healthcare workers, and skilled trades professionals seeking affordable living with reasonable taxes. The county's balanced profile suits those prioritizing work-life balance and community roots over aggressive wealth-building.
Chester County ranks solidly above national median
Chester County's composite score of 78.1 beats the national median of 50.0 by 56%, placing it in the 78th percentile nationwide. This strong performance reflects consistent advantages across multiple livability dimensions.
Exceeds Tennessee average across the board
Chester County's score of 78.1 surpasses Tennessee's state average of 76.3, ranking it in the upper third of Tennessee's county livability standings. This positions Chester County among the state's more desirable communities.
Balanced affordability with moderate incomes
Chester County combines a tax score of 87.1 (with 0.539% effective rate) and a cost score of 85.2 (median rent $714, median home value $155,200), creating accessible housing for middle-class households. A median household income of $60,543 provides solid local earning potential.
Income growth opportunities could expand
Chester County's income score of 22.9 reflects moderate earning levels that, while above the statewide norm, offer limited pathway to high wealth accumulation. Health, safety, school, and water quality assessments are still underway.
Ideal for working families seeking stability
Chester County appeals to middle-income families, teachers, healthcare workers, and skilled trades professionals seeking affordable living with reasonable taxes. The county's balanced profile suits those prioritizing work-life balance and community roots over aggressive wealth-building.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛87.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
With a 0.539% effective rate, Chester County falls below the national average and its $837 median annual tax is just 31% of the national median of $2,690. Smaller home values in this rural county contribute significantly to the low tax burden.
Slightly above Tennessee average
Chester County's 0.539% effective rate sits just above Tennessee's state average of 0.511%, placing it in the middle tier statewide. This modest premium reflects local budget needs while remaining reasonable by national standards.
Moderate tax rate regionally
Chester's 0.539% rate sits between lower-taxed neighbors like Cheatham (0.507%) and Claiborne (0.492%) and higher-taxed Carroll (0.663%). For a median home value of $155,200, it offers reasonable value compared to surrounding counties.
What Chester homeowners pay annually
On a median home value of $155,200, Chester County residents pay approximately $837 yearly in property taxes—about $70 per month. With a mortgage, escrow payments climb to $1,020, which may reflect lender impounds for insurance or other fees.
Challenge inflated assessments
Chester County homeowners should review their assessment notices carefully, as discrepancies between assessed and actual market value are common. Filing an appeal is straightforward and can result in significant annual savings if your property is overvalued.
Chester County renters spend just 14.2% of household income on rent, well below the national median and among the best affordability ratios in our eight-county sample. With a median household income of $60,543—respectable for rural Tennessee—Chester delivers genuine housing relief for budget-conscious movers.
Best affordability in the group
Chester's rent-to-income ratio of 14.2% ranks significantly below Tennessee's state average of 17.6%, making it one of the most affordable counties in the dataset. The combination of a lower-than-average rent of $714 and above-average household income of $60,543 creates a rare affordability sweet spot.
Genuinely cheaper living here
Chester's $714 median rent is the lowest among our sample alongside Clay County, while its $60,543 median income outpaces most rural peers. This double advantage—low rent plus decent wages—sets Chester apart from neighboring Claiborne ($736 rent) and Cocke ($787 rent) counties.
Housing leaves room in the budget
The typical Chester household earns $60,543 annually and pays $714 in monthly rent or $692 for ownership, consuming just 14.2% and 13.7% of gross income respectively. That efficiency is rare at this income level and means Chester residents have more breathing room for other necessities and savings.
Top choice for affordability seekers
If maximizing housing affordability is your priority, Chester County delivers genuine value: reasonable rents, solid incomes, and a rent-to-income ratio below the state average. Compare it to nearby rural counties to confirm commute feasibility, but Chester offers some of the best housing economics in this region.
Chester County approaches national income standard
Chester County's median household income of $60,543 falls short of the U.S. median of $74,755 by roughly $14,200, or 19%. The county sits slightly below the national average, typical of many mid-sized rural Tennessee counties.
Near the middle of Tennessee earners
At $60,543, Chester County's median income edges just $1,549 above Tennessee's state average of $58,994. The county ranks in the middle tier of Tennessee counties, suggesting a more balanced economic position than struggling rural peers.
Outearning most rural neighbors
Chester County's $60,543 median income substantially exceeds Carroll County ($50,391) and Claiborne County ($46,587), while matching Coffee County ($60,656). The county benefits from slightly stronger job diversity than its most rural neighbors.
Best affordability ratio in the region
Chester County's 14.2% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest among its peers, meaning residents carry minimal housing cost burden relative to earnings. This affordability advantage provides breathing room for savings and emergencies compared to higher-cost counties.
Build on solid financial footing
Chester County's reasonable housing costs and moderate income create an opportunity to prioritize debt reduction and retirement saving. Direct the savings from Chester County's favorable housing ratios into tax-advantaged accounts to accelerate long-term wealth growth.
At 72.8 years, Chester County residents live slightly longer than the U.S. average of 76.4 years—actually, that's about 3.6 years shorter; Chester's strength is relative to Tennessee, not the nation. The county's 24.2% poor or fair health rate exceeds the national average of 17%, suggesting higher chronic disease burden. Despite better longevity, Chester's population reports significant health struggles.
Top quartile for life expectancy
Chester's 72.8-year life expectancy ranks among Tennessee's best, trailing only a few counties and exceeding the state average of 72.4 by 0.4 years. Its 11.4% uninsured rate sits just below the state average of 11.9%, meaning strong insurance coverage. Chester performs well on both metrics—a rare combination in rural Tennessee.
Best-in-class longevity locally
Chester's 72.8-year life expectancy leads nearby counties including Carroll (70.6), Claiborne (71.0), and Coffee (71.8). However, the county's 29 primary care providers per 100,000 residents tie with Carter as the lowest among neighbors, a surprising gap. Exceptional mental health support at 97 per 100K—the highest in the region—partially compensates for primary care sparsity.
Strong insurance, sparse primary care
Chester's 11.4% uninsured rate is excellent and the county's mental health infrastructure at 97 providers per 100K is exceptional—the best in the region. Yet the county has only 29 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, creating potential delays for routine physicals and screenings. This mismatch between mental health and primary care access is unusual and may reflect specialized demand.
Maintain coverage, leverage support
If uninsured, Chester residents should explore healthcare.gov or TennCare to close the small remaining gap and secure preventive care. Those covered should advocate for primary care expansion—the county's strong mental health resources show commitment to health, but primary care remains the foundation. Demand shapes supply: more patients seeking primary care encourages provider recruitment.
Chester County's composite risk score of 44.50 sits well below Tennessee's state average of 52.45, indicating below-average vulnerability to natural disasters. The county's relatively low rating reflects a manageable multi-hazard environment compared to much of the state.
Among Tennessee's lowest-risk counties
Chester County ranks in the lowest tier of Tennessee's 95 counties by disaster risk, with a score of 44.50 that reflects relatively modest natural hazard exposure. This favorable positioning offers residents and businesses a more stable environment for long-term planning.
Safest of its immediate peer group
Chester County's 44.50 score makes it the safest of its regional neighbors, including Carroll County (72.81) to the north and Cheatham County (46.28) to the west. This favorable comparison underscores Chester's position in a lower-risk pocket of West Tennessee.
Tornadoes and earthquakes exceed local norms
Tornado risk (71.76) and earthquake risk (90.11) represent Chester County's main vulnerabilities, both notably above the state average despite the county's overall low composite score. Flood and wildfire risks remain minimal at 21.79 and 14.54 respectively.
Earthquake coverage and storm shelter priority
Chester County residents should obtain standalone earthquake insurance to address the county's surprisingly high 90.11 seismic risk score. Adding a basement safe room or reinforced interior space for tornadoes (71.76 risk) provides cost-effective protection without extensive structural upgrades.