Home Insurance in Chester, Pennsylvania
Homes in Chester carry a median value of $83,100 - 75% lower than the Delaware County median.
Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. The typical home in Chester was built around 1949. About 65% of homes were built before 1960, about 8 points above Delaware County's 58%.
Housing in Chester breaks down to 70% single-family homes and 17% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 40% of owner-occupied homes in Chester have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
About 40% of occupied homes in Chester are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 16%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
In Chester, 49% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
What's the biggest home insurance risk near Chester? FEMA's National Risk Index points to winter weather (Very High) in Delaware County and Delaware County had 2,016 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Delaware County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
According to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data), a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Pennsylvania carries a statewide average premium of $1,217 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $83,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1949 |
| Owner-occupied share | 40% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 40% |
| Top county hazard | Winter Weather (Very High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Delaware County | 2,016 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,217 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)