Chester, PA vs Elizabethtown, PA

Chester is moderately more affordable than Elizabethtown, with a 9.6% lower cost of living index. Chester scores 76 compared to 84 for Elizabethtown, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Elizabethtown can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chester is $1,080/month compared to $1,038/month in Elizabethtown — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Elizabethtown has cheaper rent, Chester actually has lower median home values ($85,400 vs $222,600).

Median household income in Chester is $39,809 compared to $67,770 in Elizabethtown (-41.3%). While Elizabethtown is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 32.6% of their income on rent, more than the 18.4% in Elizabethtown. The Elizabethtown ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (56.3°F vs 54.3°F). Elizabethtown receives more rainfall at 44.2" per year compared to 44.1" in Chester.