Signals
Mechanicsville
Chester
Climate
75 · Top 28%
vs75 · Top 28%
Physical resilience
82 · Top 20%
vs76 · Top 30%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 39%
vs90 · Top 32%
Schools
91 · Top 3%
vs32 · Bottom 24%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs93 · Top 46%
Economic stability
73 · Top 22%
vs67 · Top 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Mechanicsville | Chester | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,683 | 24,474 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $98,595 | $95,104 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,231 | $41,686 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,365/sq mi | 1,860/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $351,000 | $327,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,724 | $1,603 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.5% | 71.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.8% | 33.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 8.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 89°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 28°F | 29°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.8" | 45.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 28.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.8 | 38.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 18 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.63 | 12.59 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 83.1% | 35.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 82.4% | 55.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 26.5% | 75.6% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Mechanicsville
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake.
Chester
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Mechanicsville
84
Your Score
—
Area Score
Chester
69
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Mechanicsville, VA · Chester, VA · How this is calculated: methodology