Chester, NJ housing market
The median sale price was $1,450,000 in May 2026.
Home values, sales, trends and how Chester compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Chester at a glance
Only 1 sale in May 2026: in a market this size, monthly medians swing a lot, so the typical value above is the steadier guide.
Home prices up 52% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP code around Chester rose 52% over the past 5 years, slower than across New Jersey (63%). Last year prices rose 10%. Carrying the Census median home value forward with that index puts the typical Chester home at roughly $1,017,000 today.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | New Jersey since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +10% | +104% | +191% |
| 2024 | +3.2% | +85% | +174% |
| 2023 | +9.8% | +79% | +152% |
| 2022 | +14% | +63% | +128% |
| 2021 | +6.6% | +43% | +98% |
| 2020 | +1.7% | +34% | +79% |
| 2019 | −0.1% | +32% | +73% |
| 2018 | +3.2% | +32% | +68% |
| 2017 | −1.9% | +28% | +62% |
| 2016 | −1.2% | +31% | +59% |
| 2015 | +5.8% | +32% | +55% |
| 2014 | −3% | +25% | +52% |
| 2013 | +1.3% | +29% | +48% |
| 2012 | −2.9% | +27% | +47% |
| 2011 | −1% | +31% | +52% |
| 2010 | −7.4% | +32% | +59% |
| 2009 | −5.7% | +43% | +66% |
| 2008 | −3.2% | +52% | +81% |
| 2007 | −5.8% | +57% | +90% |
| 2006 | +9.5% | +66% | +91% |
| 2005 | +18% | +52% | +75% |
| 2004 | +7.4% | +29% | +51% |
| 2003 | +5% | +20% | +31% |
| 2002 | +9.8% | +15% | +22% |
| 2001 | +4.5% | +4.5% | +9.7% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP code 07930, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost. The estimated value scales the Census (ACS 2020-2024) median home value by that change.
No new homes permitted in 2025
No permits for new homes were issued in Chester in 2025. The last year with any was 2020 (27 new homes).
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Chester gained 32 residents while 535 new homes were permitted: about 0.1 new residents per new home. Building outpaced population growth, which usually means smaller households or homes used part of the year. Across New Jersey: 2 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 27 | 7 | 20 | $3.4 million |
| 2019 | 41 | 6 | 35 | $4.2 million |
| 2018 | 32 | 5 | 27 | $3.4 million |
| 2017 | 54 | 9 | 45 | $5.7 million |
| 2016 | 40 | 8 | 32 | $4.4 million |
| 2015 | 98 | 14 | 84 | $9.9 million |
| 2014 | 87 | 17 | 70 | $9.5 million |
| 2013 | 69 | 14 | 55 | $7.6 million |
| 2012 | 46 | 9 | 37 | $5 million |
| 2011 | 37 | 7 | 30 | $4 million |
| 2010 | 31 | 8 | 23 | $3.7 million |
| 2009 | 18 | 5 | 13 | $2.1 million |
| 2008 | 19 | 3 | 16 | $1.8 million |
| 2007 | 16 | 7 | 9 | $1.5 million |
| 2006 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $962,000 |
| 2005 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $17,000 |
| 2004 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $64,000 |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $17,000 |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $580,000 |
| 2000 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1 million |
How Chester ranks on new homes being built →
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
3.8 years of income
The typical Chester home costs about 3.8 years of the town's median household income, less than across New Jersey (5.6 years).
How Chester ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $2,490
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Chester is $2,490 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Chester pay a median of $1,344, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 17% of the town's median household income.
Studio $1,820 · 4 bedrooms $3,540
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (07930; Newark, NJ HUD Metro FMR Area), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center, May 2026. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.