40 / 100

Chester County, PA

Tredyffrin

RANK #594 / 996 NAT  ·  #28 / 44 PA  ·  POP 536,474

1YR FORECAST: +0.9%

5YR OUTLOOK: +21%

Chester County's housing market is projected to grow +0.9% over the next year, below the national average.

[01] Why Chester County?

Kennett Square, known as the "Mushroom Capital of the World," stands out as a distinctive town in Chester County, Pennsylvania, producing a significant portion of the nation's mushroom crop. Located in southeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 40 miles west of Philadelphia, Chester County offers a blend of suburban and rural living. Commute times to Philadelphia are typically around 45 minutes, with public transportation options including SEPTA Regional Rail and bus services. The county features rolling hills, farmland, and extensive green spaces, including Marsh Creek State Park and Valley Forge National Historical Park, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, and boating.

Life in Chester County is characterized by a high quality of life, with residents often citing the area as an excellent place to live and raise a family. The public school districts in Chester County are highly rated, contributing to its appeal for families. The economy is diverse, with strong sectors in healthcare, professional and technical services, and finance. Recent economic developments show continued investment in technology and data infrastructure, reflecting a broader trend of growth in these areas.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.7x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+1.8%

Below national median

Home Prices
+2.8%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
-1.5

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
17x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 4.7x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    The Chester County Hospital (Penn Medicine) Healthcare
    25,000+
  2. 2
    QVC Network Inc. Retail
    10,000+
  3. 3
    The Vanguard Group Inc. Finance
  4. 4
    County of Chester Government
  5. 5
    Federal Government Government
  6. 6
    Main Line Hospitals Inc. Healthcare
  7. 7
    Giant Food Stores LLC Retail
  8. 8
    PA State System of Higher Education Education
  9. 9
    Downingtown Area School District Education
  10. 10
    Chester County Intermediate Unit Education

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Chester County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
536,474
+0.9% YoY
Median Household Income
$118,574
Median Home Value
$435,000
+2.76% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,601
Average Annual Pay
$87,886
+3.0% YoY
Employment
251,284
+0.1% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2726
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
3.68%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
56.1%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$526,000
Days on Market
40
Moderate pace
Months of Supply
2.2
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
101.0%
Homes selling above asking
Sold Above List
38.8%
Listings w/ Price Drops
11.9%
Building Permits (2024)
1,529
Single-Family Permits
1,187

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

A
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
1.7
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
7.0
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
62.9
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Well below national avg
based on homicide rate

Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →

[06] Air Quality

B
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
45.0
Good
Good Air Days
64%
684 of 1,072 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
9
Includes 2 Very Unhealthy
Primary Pollutant
PM2.5
Fine particulate matter
Yearly Trend
2021
45
2022
45
2023
45
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$1,094M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
1547 Critical Systems Realty Data Center Campus
1547 Critical Systems Realty / Green Fig Land Company
$1,000M Under Construction
Toll Brothers at West Vincent Township (46 single-family homes)
Toll Brothers
$50M Proposed
Chester County Government Capital Projects (various)
Chester County Government
$44M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[08] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +1.8% 31 percentile
Population Growth +0.9% 69 percentile
Income Growth +7.8% 33 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.7% 80 percentile
Home Price Change +2.8% 69 percentile
Rent Growth +3.4% 59 percentile
Price/Rent 17x 20 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chester County, PA a good place to move to?

Chester County scores 40/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#594). Median household income is $118,574 and job growth is running at +0.1%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.

Is Chester County affordable?

Housing in Chester County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $435,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,601/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Chester County growing or shrinking?

Chester County's population is growing — up +0.9% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.1%). Home values shifted +2.8% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.

Are people moving to Chester County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.68% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Chester County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Delaware County, PA 40 Lehigh County, PA 45 Washington County, PA 45 Philadelphia County, PA 35 Lycoming County, PA 46 Adams County, PA 47 Richland County, SC 40 Washington County, MN 40