Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Chesterfield’s subject grades is an A for history; the weakest is a D− for incomes. 28% of residents live below the poverty line in Chesterfield, above both South Carolina’s towns (17%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 11 of South Carolina’s 261 towns score lower on incomes. On history, just 3 of South Carolina’s 263 towns do better. Chesterfield's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 81% of U.S. towns. Chesterfield has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Chesterfield beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within South Carolina), ordered by how far Chesterfield is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 308 in 1900, 1,357 in 2020. The archive holds 8 old photos and papers going back to 1933 and 2 maps from 1968 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Chesterfield, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Chesterfield.
Most working residents leave Chesterfield for work: only 9% work in town. At $45,000, Chesterfield’s median household income is below both the South Carolina town median ($57,000) and the median of U.S. towns ($80,000). Jobs based in Chesterfield grew to 1,184 in 2023, 149 more than in 2013.
| Chesterfield | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $45,000 | $57,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 8.6% | 6.1% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Chesterfield 01 school district. Its two schools are below. The largest public high school is Chesterfield High, with 485 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwards ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 538 | B− |
| Chesterfield HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 485 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SC on state tests and graduation
Chesterfield beats the South Carolina average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 42% of adults have obesity in Chesterfield.
| Chesterfield | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 37% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 40% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 15% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 28% | 25% |
| What stands out | Chesterfield | SC |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17.8% | 13.9% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4.7% | 3.9% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 20.9% | 17.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The typical Chesterfield home is worth about $191,000, up 10.2% in a year, 37% below the South Carolina typical home. Chesterfield’s median rent is $760 a month.
| Chesterfield | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $760 a month | $1,060 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 64% | 65% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Chesterfield has mild winters and warm summers. The July high in Chesterfield is 92°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Chesterfield's reported crime rate is above South Carolina's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. 7 violent crimes were reported in 2024.
| Chesterfield | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 5.1 per 1,000 residents | 4.6 | 1.7 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 27.1 per 1,000 residents | 27.4 | 11.5 |
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 53% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
1 within 15 miles of the center of Chesterfield
About 2 of every 100 Chesterfield residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across South Carolina.
Where Chesterfield’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
3 places in Chesterfield on the National Register of Historic Places.
Town in South Carolina, United States
Chesterfield is a town in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,357 as of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Chesterfield County, and least populous of all South Carolina county seats.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
That is 3.9 years of the area's median household income ($49,235 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.
