Jamie Stitt
Assistant Commissioner, Business and Workforce Development
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243Common Search Terms
Chester County
County Profile ToolChester County
Population & Demographics
Location
Time Zone
Central Time Zone
Grand Division
West Tennessee
Area (Square Miles)
285.7
County Seat
Henderson
Metropolitan Area
Jackson, TN
ECD Region
Southwest
Population
Population
(2020)
17,341
Population
(2022)
17,392
Population Change
(2020 - 2022)
0.3%
Population Forecast
(2040)
17,676
Foreign Born Population
204
Foreign Born Persons (Percentage of Population)
1.20%
Language Other Than English Spoken At Home
1.70%
Civilian Veteran Population
757
Race (Percentage of Population)
White Alone
86.20%
Black or African American, alone
10.30%
American Indian And Alaska Native, alone
0.00%
Asian, alone
0.20%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, alone
0.00%
Some Other Race, alone
0.90%
Two or More Races
2.40%
Hispanic or Latino
2.90%
Age (Percentage of Population)
Male
Female
Total
Under 5 Years Old
Male: 5.20%
Female: 0.053
Total: 5.30%
Under 18 Years Old
Male: 21.40%
Female: 21.70%
Total: 21.60%
18-64 Years Old
Male: 62.00%
Female: 60.40%
Total: 61.10%
65 Years and Over
Male: 16.60%
Female: 17.90%
Total: 17.30%
Median Age
Male: 38
Female: 38
Total: 38
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Tennessee State Data Center (2024)
Housing & Income
Housing & Income
Households
6,106
Homeownership Rate
76.6%
Persons Per Household
2.64
Living In Same House 1 Year & Over
92.8%
Median Home Value
$136,700
Annual Home Sales
131
Median Sale Price of Homes Sold
$205,000
Persons In Households With Income Below Poverty Level
15.8%
Total Personal Income
$716.4M
Personal Income Per Capita
$40,686
County Median Wage
$18.80
Household Income & Benefits
Percent of Household
Less Than $10,000
6.1%
$10,000 to $14,999
3.9%
$15,000 to $24,999
13.6%
$25,000 to $34,999
11.0%
$35,000 to $49,999
10.0%
$50,000 to $74,999
21.8%
$75,000 to $99,999
12.9%
$100,000 to $149,999
13.9%
$150,000 to $199,999
5.1%
$200,000 or More
1.7%
Median Household Income
$57,471
Percentage of Households by Income Range
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Housing Development Agency (2023)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2023)
Lightcast (2023)
Tax Structure
Property Tax
Property Tax Rate (County)
$2.1869
State Property Tax
None
Assessment Ratio: Residential Property
25%
Assessment Ratio: Farm Property
25%
Assessment Ratio: Commercial/Industrial Property
40%
Assessment Ratio: Public Utility Property
55%
Assessment Ratio: Business Personal Property
30%
State Tax
State Income Tax on Wages
None
State Income Tax: Interest from Bonds and Notes and Dividends from Stock
None (Hall Income tax was fully repealed January 1, 2021)
Excise Tax (State)
6.5% of Tennessee taxable income
Franchise Tax (state)
0.25% of the greater of net worth or real and tangible property in Tennessee. The minimum tax is $100.
Unemployment Insurance Tax (state)
2.7% of the first $7,000 in wages for new employers
Sales Tax
State Sales Tax Rate
7.0%
County Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
Local Sales Tax Collections
(FY 2023)
$4,794,817
Local Sales Tax Collections
(FY 2024)
$4,763,014
Local Sales Tax Collections Growth
(FY 2023 - FY 2024)
0.67%
State Bond Ratings
Moody's
Aaa
Standard & Poor's
AAA
Fitch
AAA
Debt per Capita
State Debt per Capita
$988
County Debt Per Capita
$423
Sources:
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2024)
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2024)
The Tax Foundation (2024)
Labor Force
Labor Force Estimates (2023)
Tennessee
Chester
Labor Force
Tennessee: 3,379,605
Chester: 8,493
Employment
Tennessee: 3,267,935
Chester: 8,227
Unemployment
Tennessee: 111,670
Chester: 266
Unemployment Rate
Tennessee: 3.30%
Chester: 3.10%
Unemployment Rate*
Tennessee
Chester
2019
Tennessee: 7.40%
Chester: 5.50%
2020
Tennessee: 4.50%
Chester: 3.40%
2021
Tennessee: 3.40%
Chester: 3.00%
2022
Tennessee: 3.30%
Chester: 3.10%
Unemployment Rate (by percentage)
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Industries
Industry
Employment
Establishments
Avg. Annual Wages
Crop and Animal Production
Employment: 27
Establishments: 2
Avg. Annual Wages: $74,615
Utilities
Employment: 35
Establishments: 1
Employment: $59,562
Construction
Employment: 165
Establishments: 30
Employment: $65,102
Manufacturing
Employment: 716
Establishments: 25
Employment: $52,756
Wholesale Trade
Employment: 68
Establishments: 16
Employment: $62,033
Retail Trade
Employment: 365
Establishments: 49
Employment: $32,197
Transportation and Warehousing
Employment: 23
Establishments: 10
Employment: $45,801
Information
Employment: 18
Establishments: 6
Employment: $50,809
Finance and Insurance
Employment: 62
Establishments: 19
Employment: $66,252
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
Employment: 19
Establishments: 7
Employment: $27,311
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Employment: 62
Establishments: 18
Employment: $47,356
Administrative, Support, Waste Management and Remediation
Employment: 80
Establishments: 16
Employment: $26,436
Educational Services
Employment: 520
Establishments: 4
Employment: $34,512
Health Care and Social Assistance
Employment: 350
Establishments: 34
Employment: $34,786
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Employment: 14
Establishments: 2
Employment: $11,334
Accommodation and Food Services
Employment: 373
Establishments: 25
Employment: $15,838
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Employment: 80
Establishments: 21
Employment: $35,858
Government
Employment: 1,085
Establishments: 21
Employment: $35,141
Total
Employment: 4,061
Establishments: 304
Employment: $38,763
Unique Occupations*
Employment
Location Quotient*
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
Employment: 12
Location Quotient*: 27.44
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Employment: 18
Location Quotient*: 19.71
Pipelayers
Employment: 13
Location Quotient*: 13.04
Tool and Die Makers
Employment: 19
Location Quotient*: 10.54
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Employment: 40
Location Quotient*: 7.84
Key Cluster
Total Employment
Advanced Materials
0
Aerospace & Defense
0
Appliances & Electrical
0
Automotive
101
Business Services
19
Chemicals
0
Distribution & Logistics
67
Film, Music & Entertainment
0
Food & Beverage
0
Healthcare & Medical Devices
0
Top Employers
Top County Employers
Estimated Employees
City
Freed-Hardeman University
Est. Employees: 584
City: Henderson
Chester County Board of Education
Est. Employees: 410
City: Henderson
Southwest TN Human Resource Agency
Est. Employees: 254
City: Henderson
Arvin Sango
Est. Employees: 132
City: Henderson
Henderson Stamping & Production, Inc.
Est. Employees: 130
City: Henderson
Henderson Health and Rehabilitation Center
Est. Employees: 125
City: Henderson
Premier Manufacturing Corporation.
Est. Employees: 122
City: Henderson
Chester County Government
Est. Employees: 102
City: Henderson
Anvil International, LLC
Est. Employees: 93
City: Henderson
Quality Metal Stamping LLC
Est. Employees: 74
City: Henderson
Transportation & Logistics
Transportation
Nearest Commercial Service Airport
McKellar Sipes (Jackson)
Distance to Nearest Commercial Service Airport
24
Nearest General Aviation Airport
McKellar-Sipes Regional (Jackson)
Distance to Nearest General Aviation Airport
24.4
Runway Length at Nearest General Aviation Airport
6,005'
Mean Travel Time to Work (Minutes)
29.3
Access of Interstate
I-40 (21 miles)
U.S. Highways
45
State Highways
5, 22, 100, 125, 197, 200, 201, 224, 225, 365
Nearest Port (From County Seat)
New Johnsonville
Railroads Serving County
NS, West TN Railroad
Sources:
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration, Aeronautical Data (2024)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Education
General Stats
Chester
Tennessee
Population Aged 25-64 With High School Degree Or Higher
Chester: 86.8%
Tennessee: 91.5%
Population Aged 25-64 With Associate's Degree Or Higher
Chester: 24.7%
Tennessee: 41.2%
Population Aged 25-64 With Bachelor's Degree Or Higher
Chester: 20.1%
Tennessee: 32.8%
High School Graduation Rate
Chester: 97.6%
Tennessee: 90.6%
College Going Rate
Chester: 54.4%
Tennessee: 56.7%
Average ACT Score
Chester: 18.6
Tennessee: 19.0
High School Graduation Rate
College Going Rate
Average ACT Score
Chester County Schools
Enrollment
Elementary Schools
Enrollment: 1,329
Middle Schools
Enrollment: 608
High Schools
Enrollment: 811
Regional Higher Education Institutions
City
Enrollment
Freed-Hardeman University
City: Henderson
Enrollment: 2,330
Jackson State Community College
City: Jackson
Enrollment: 3,442
Union University
City: Jackson
Enrollment: 2,731
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson
City: Jackson
Enrollment: 2,239
Lane College
City: Jackson
Enrollment: 1,010
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump
City: Crump
Enrollment: 1411
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 1-Year American Community Survey,
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Department of Education (2022-2023)
National Center for Education Statistics
Tennessee Board of Regents and Tennessee Higher Education Commission
† Regional higher education institutions include those within the selected and surrounding counties.
Due to data availability, federal graduation rates were used for Clay, Fentress, and Haywood counties.
Health & Public Safety
Doctors
Number of Doctors
8
Overweight & Obesity Prevalence
Adults*
27.8
Children** (Grade 8)
41.4
Regional Hospitals
Number of Beds
City
Sources:
American Medical Association (2023)
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Tennessee Department of Health
† Regional hospitals include those within the selected and surrounding counties.
Climate
Climate
Average High Temperature
72.1°F
Average Low Temperature
49.4°F
Average Annual Temperature
60.8°F
Annual Rainfall
60.40"
Elevation (at County Seat)
450'
Prevailing Winds
South-Southwest
Sources:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2023)
Community Information
Enville
Population (2022)
168
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
Phone Number
(731) 688-5511
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
No
Main Street Participant
No
Henderson
Population (2022)
6,289
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$1.05
Phone Number
(731) 983-5000
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
Yes
Main Street Participant
No
Milledgeville
Population (2019)
297
Charter Type
General Law Mayor-Alderman
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
Phone Number
(731) 687-3011
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
No
Main Street Participant
No
Silerton
Population (2022)
132
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
Phone Number
(731) 658-3748
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
No
Main Street Participant
No
Additional Community Information
ThreeStar Certified County
Yes
Sources:
Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2015)
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2015)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 5-Year American Community Survey