Chester, NY vs Suffern, NY

Chester is moderately more affordable than Suffern, with a 14.9% lower cost of living index. Chester scores 111 compared to 131 for Suffern, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Suffern can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chester is $1,649/month compared to $2,068/month in Suffern — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chester is more affordable at $280,600 median vs $350,200.

Median household income in Chester is $97,250 compared to $100,737 in Suffern (-3.5%). Suffern does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 20.3% of their income on rent, less than the 24.6% in Suffern.