Chambersburg, PA vs Chester, PA

Chester is moderately more affordable than Chambersburg, with a 8.6% lower cost of living index. Chambersburg scores 82 compared to 76 for Chester, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Chambersburg can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chambersburg is $1,088/month compared to $1,080/month in Chester — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chester is more affordable at $85,400 median vs $196,200.

Median household income in Chambersburg is $56,177 compared to $39,809 in Chester (+41.1%). While Chambersburg is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chambersburg spend roughly 23.2% of their income on rent, less than the 32.6% in Chester. The Chambersburg ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (55.4°F vs 56.3°F). Chester receives more rainfall at 44.1" per year compared to 35.6" in Chambersburg.