Chester is a city in Hancock County, West Virginia, home to about 2,179 people across 1.0 square miles. Its ZIP code is 26034.
Homes sold for a median of $109 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Chester. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Chester’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Chester well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)19 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Pittsburgh, PA32 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Philadelphia, PA289 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Chester; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Chester had 2,208 residents in the 2020 census, down 15% since 2000.
It’s the 74th largest of 429 towns in West Virginia by population.
Hancock County grew from 6,693 residents in 1900 to 29,095 in 2020.
Hancock County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 84°F in summer, and winter lows average 21°F. About 41.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, New Cumberland L/D, WV weather station (6 miles away).
7,481 jobs at 544 businesses in Hancock County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
6 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Chester.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 1 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 3 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 1 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 1 |
| Pharmacies | 1 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores
Pharmacies
Libraries
Museums
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Hancock County Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. T. Allison Elementary SchoolChester | Pre-K–4 | 261 | Public | 1.2 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Chester? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.