Area data
Chester, VA — ZIP 23831
Population: 39,529 (Census ACS)
The median home value in ZIP 23831 (Chester, VA) is $383,431 — up 2.3% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $386,000 after a median 20 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,812/month. 8 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with icestorm, lightning, winterweather the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 1.1% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$383,431
Median home value
+2.3%
1-year change
20
Median days on market
Relatively Moderate
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $383,431
- 1-year appreciation
- +2.3%
- 3-year appreciation
- +6.8%
- 5-year appreciation
- +25.2%
- 10-year appreciation
- +76.8%
- All-time peak (2026-08)
- $383,431
- House Price Index (state)
- 439.0 (+3.0% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $386,000
- Median list price
- $379,400
- Median price per sqft
- $205
- 1-year sale-price change
- +1.1%
- Median days on market
- 20 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 125
- For-sale inventory
- 116
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 99.9%
- Active listings
- 101
- 1-year forecast
- +1.6%
- Days to pending
- 28 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 49
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,812/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +1.6%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $1,456/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,517/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,651/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $2,039/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $2,499/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Above Average)
- 101.1 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 15.3¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $16.80/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 7.40%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.73%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 8
- Elementary schools
- 4
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 2
- Avg student-teacher ratio
- 12.5 : 1
- Schools include
- C.C. Wells Elementary, C.E. Curtis Elementary, Carver Middle, Harrowgate Elementary, Thomas Dale High
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Moderate
- Top hazards (county)
- iceStorm, lightning, winterWeather, heatWave, hurricane
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- hail: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively Low · tornado: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Relatively High · hurricane: Relatively Moderate
- FEMA flood zone
- X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 24% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 64.3%
- Radon potential (county)
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
- Nearest Superfund site
- Defense General Supply Center (DLA) (5 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 58.0°F
- Average high
- 70.0°F
- Average low
- 47.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 47.6 in
- Annual snowfall
- 4.3 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 7b (extreme annual low 5 to 10°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 39
- Days with Good air quality
- 294
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 70
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 80
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 3.7 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- -99,999
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 58,414
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 54,437
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 6
- Nearest national park
- Petersburg National Battlefield (11 mi)
- National parks include
- Petersburg National Battlefield, Richmond National Battlefield Park, Maggie L Walker National Historic Site
- Airports within 30 mi
- 21
- Nearest airport
- Richmond Executive-Chesterfield County Airport (6 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Richmond International Airport (RIC) (13 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 15
- Hospitals include
- JOHN RANDOLPH MEDICAL CENTER, MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA HOSPITALS, BON SECOURS ST MARYS HOSPITAL
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.8 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 5.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.3 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- +2,210 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,994
- Housing built before 1970
- 11.7%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 39.7%
- Median annual property tax
- $2,567
- Mean commute to work
- 23 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 83.7%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 124,771
- Average weekly wage
- $1,192
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 2,194
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| ZIP 23831 | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $383,431 | $327,706 | $288,527 |
| Median sale price | $386,000 | $380,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 20 days | 35 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $1,812/mo | $1,993/mo | $1,809/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $2,567 | $1,619 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in ZIP 23831?
- $383,431.
- What is the median sale price in ZIP 23831?
- $386,000.
- How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 23831?
- Median days on market: 20 days.
- What is typical rent in ZIP 23831?
- Typical rent: $1,812/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 23831?
- Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: iceStorm, lightning, winterWeather, heatWave, hurricane.
- Is ZIP 23831 in a flood zone?
- Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
- What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 23831?
- Risk to homes is higher than 24% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in ZIP 23831?
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 23831?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve ZIP 23831?
- 8 schools (4 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is ZIP 23831 walkable?
- Walkability index: 3.7/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in ZIP 23831?
- Good. Median AQI: 39. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in ZIP 23831?
- Regional Price Parity: 101.1 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
Nearby ZIP codes
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →