How much does it cost to rent in Chester, VA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Chester, VA is $1,835. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Chester cheaper than other Virginia cities?

Chester falls in the middle range for Virginia, ranking #53 out of 83 cities at $1,835/mo.

When was Chester rent data last updated?

Chester rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · VA

Chester

Name: Average Rent Prices in Chester, VA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 24,474·53rd most expensive in Virginia·Chester rents are up 6.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,835/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.3%

Month-over-Month

+4.3%

vs US Median

-$130

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Chester · $1,835

More affordable than 51% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

53/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Chester's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,835/mo

Expected by trend

$1,866/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Chester's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,685

1 BR

$1,755

2 BR

$1,940

3 BR

$2,455

4 BR+

$3,035

Research median

$1,940/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$22,020/yr

At $1,835/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.3% YoY, +4.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Chester, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 33.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

24,474

Median income

$95,104

Median age

38.7

Renters

28.7%

Age distribution

25.4%

17.3%

29.4%

12.9%

15.1%

Under 1825.4%

18–3417.3%

35–5429.4%

55–6412.9%

65+15.1%

Gender

49.7%

50.3%

Male49.7%

Female50.3%

Race & ethnicity

57.2%

22.4%

16.4%

White57.2%

Black22.4%

Hispanic16.4%

Asian1.6%

Other2.4%

Education (25+)

28%

31.5%

33.8%

No HS diploma6.7%

HS diploma28%

Some college31.5%

Bachelor's+33.8%

Housing tenure

71.3%

28.7%

Owner71.3%

Renter28.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Chester, VA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,376 → $1,835

up 33.4%

Income

$78,673 → $95,104

up 20.9%

Population

22,512 → 24,474

up 8.7%

Renter share

29% → 28.7%

-0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

32.5% → 33.8%

+1.3 pts

The median rent in Chester, VA stood at $1,376 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,835, reflecting a 33.4% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $78,673 to $95,104 between 2021 and 2024, a 20.9% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 8.7% since 2021, moving from about 22,512 residents to roughly 24,474. Taken together, the five-year picture in Chester, VA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Chester

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View Chester rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Chester on your salary?

At $1,835/mo, how Chester rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 22.8% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 32.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 27.9% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 15.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 12.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 34.4% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 38.1% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 30.9% income

stretched

By apartment size

Chester rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Chester. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Chester

About renting in Chester, VA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Chester is $1,835/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,685/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,940/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,755/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,455/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($95,104/yr), Chester ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Chester an affordable city for renters?

Chester is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,835/mo, rent takes approximately 23% of the local median household income ($95,104/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Chester falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Chester?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $73,000/year (~$35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,835/mo in Chester. The local median household income is $95,104/yr, meaning the typical Chester household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Chester?

Rent in Chester has increased 6.3% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Chester neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Chester are 23831 ($1,832/mo), and 23836 ($1,870/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Chester is $1,835/mo.

How does Chester rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Chester is middle-of-the-pack for Virginia for rent, ranking #53 out of 83 tracked cities at $1,835/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Chester?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Chester ($1,835/mo): Petersburg ($1,337/mo), Montrose ($1,595/mo), Bellwood ($1,658/mo).

What percentage of Chester residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 28.7% of Chester households are renters, while 71.3% are owner-occupied. Chester leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Chester rent compare to the national average?

Chester's median rent of $1,835/mo is $130 (7%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Virginia, it ranks #53 out of 83 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

23%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,835/mo, rent takes ~23% of Chester's median household income ($95,104/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Chester 23%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–5.75%

Run the Chester affordability calculator →

Nearby cities