Chester
Solid value in a growing area
3 homes for sale·Median $356K·Walkability 2.4/10·Schools 4.8/10
The country roads here really do feel like their own world—no interstate cuts through Chester Township, so you're genuinely removed from the wider churn, even though downtown Grand Rapids is about half an hour south. It's the least populated township in Ottawa County, with maybe 2,000 residents spread across farmland where you'll spot farm stands selling fresh corn and vegetables along the drives. Grose Park sits just up the road, a 40-acre county park where Crockery Lake sprawls out for swimming and fishing, if you want to get on the water without leaving the township. The actual town center is Conklin—a small cluster with a post office, church, and a bar that's honestly the only restaurant within township limits—which works fine when you've got groceries about a mile and a half away and several options within two miles. Homes here run around $373K, and the township's whole mission centers on keeping that rural character intact, which they've managed pretty well so far. Sparta Area Schools serves the area. You're looking at a place that's genuinely content being quiet and agricultural, not trying to become something else.
Why people love it here
$78K median household income
- $356K median · 18 sales in last 12mo
Park-rich area
- 5 parks within 1 mile
- Crockery Lake: 7 min walk
- Grose Park: 10 min drive
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Chester
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,415/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
18 homes sold in Chester this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthFlood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Grose Park
0.5 mi
Parks Nearby
5
within 1 mile
Based on 5 rated schools nearby
Range: 3/10 to 8/10
School District: Sparta Area Schools
Walkability
Limited
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Ravenna Foods
Grose Park
Crockery Lake
Musketawa Trail
Sparta Township Library and Community Enrichment Center
Most of Chester is policed by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. Across that jurisdiction in 2024, the most common reported offenses were larceny / theft (518 per 100,000 residents) and aggravated assault (146 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
For perspective, homicide — the most serious crime — was reported at about 0.001% of the population, roughly 1 in 100,000 residents.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 518 |
| Aggravated assault | 146 |
| Burglary | 85 |
| Rape | 52 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 46 |
| Robbery | 5 |
| Arson | 3 |
| Homicide | 1 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Figures cover the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office's full jurisdiction (the county's unincorporated areas), not Chester alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Chester home (around $355,750) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $57k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,149 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Chester household earns $77,917 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $499,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,149/mo | $57,305 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,507/mo | $66,852 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,627/mo | $70,045 |
Estimates use a 6.49% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price and median property taxes, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Land for sale
Listings
3 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$8K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$281K
Per listing
Who actually lends in Chester, and how homes here are financed — from 2024 federal mortgage records.
Loans to buy a home
Most active lenders
Homeowners refinancing an existing mortgage
Most active lenders
Source: 2024 HMDA (CFPB/FFIEC). Neighborhood figures are area-weighted estimates from census-tract data; loan amounts are rounded and all-cash purchases are excluded.
Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Solar potential
~$859/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,266 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Private well
Rural township; individual wells.
Septic - individual
Rural township; individual septic.
Resident-arranged hauler
Residents contract private hauler.
Consumers Energy / SEMCO Energy
Regional gas utility; inferred.
Confirm by addressSource: chester-twp.org
Utility, solar, and service details for Chester are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
Median Income
$78K
Home Value (Census)
$244K
Frequently asked about Chester
- What do homes cost in Chester?
- The median home value in Chester is about $355,750. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Chester housing market?
- there are 3 homes for sale in Chester right now, and 18 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Chester?
- Chester is served by Sparta Area Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Sparta Senior High School (9/10).
- Is Chester walkable?
- Chester scores 2.4/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
