Real Estate Investing in Chester, Pennsylvania (19013)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Delaware County • Population: 34,697 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 19013 (Chester, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (84/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
5.0 / 5 (100/100)

A balanced market — moderate cash flow and moderate appreciation. A "steady" investor profile fits best.

⚠️ Risks to Know
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 25.3% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 9.6% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • Lower household income: $38,237 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Chester, PA (19013)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $109,463
Avg Monthly Rent $1,291
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $38,237
% Renters 63.5%

Market Analysis: 19013 Chester

ZIP 19013 inside Chester, PA leans into a value-add thesis. Home values near $109K sit below the state median, and rents of $1,291/mo leave room for forced-equity plays.

Cap rate math of 0.0% understates the return here. Post-rehab, stabilized yields climb, and the 19013 ZIP's older housing stock gives operators the opportunity set to execute.

Across Chester, pockets like 19013 represent the last affordable rungs of a rising ladder. The state-level data shows those rungs thinning.

Residents in 19013 skew younger than the county average, and that matters for rehab positioning. Younger renters respond to finishes, appliances, and in-unit laundry in ways that move rent.

BRRRR is the most natural fit. Buy under $109K, rehab, refinance, and the capital recycles in a way turnkey markets cannot replicate.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Chester:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 81/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,291/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
🏠

Property Strategy for 19013

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
10.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+15.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$31,590/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $97,655 $1,430 10.5% +15.1% $48,827
3BR $114,228 $1,710 10.8% +13.5% $38,076
4BR $142,272 $1,910 9.7% +14.4% $35,568
5BR $157,949 +14.4% $31,590

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$127K$108K$90K$71K$52K$33KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,486$1,383$1,279$1,175$1,072$968Oct 2021Mar 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 19013 Compare?

Metric 19013 Chester Pennsylvania
Home Value $109,463 $109,463 $278,018
5-Year CAGR 7.6% 7.6% 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,291 $1,291 -
Cap Rate 9.2% 9.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 19013? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,291/mo on homes averaging $109,463 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 5/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

64% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 19013 (Chester, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
9.2%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+7.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $109,463
Monthly Rent $1,291
Price-to-Rent 7.1:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 14.2%
Cap Rate 9.2%
5-Year IRR 16.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -11.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 9.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (9.2%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
14.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19013

Population: 34,697

💰 Median Household Income
$38,237
This area
$38,237
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
63.5%
This area
63.5%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
9.6%
This area
9.6%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.7%
This area
13.7%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.4 years
This area
32.4 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 76.2%
White 14.6%
Other/Mixed 8.5%
Hispanic/Latino 4.9%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.8%
This area
14.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 19013

A Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$49,189 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Stetser El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
231 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$53,180 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Chester Upland Sch of Arts

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
425 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$53,180 Per Student
A+ Excellent

STEM at Showalter

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$53,180 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Chester Charter Scholars Academy CS

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
684 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$57,486 Per Student
A Very Good

Edgmont Scholars Academy

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
478 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$53,180 Per Student
A Very Good

Chester HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
863 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$53,180 Per Student
C+ Average

Chester Community CS

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
4,193 Students
👨‍🏫
22.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,936 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Coebourn El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1 Coebourn Boulevard, Brookhaven
👥
328 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,550 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Main Street Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 704 Main St, Upland
👥
302 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$53,180 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Woodlyn El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1200 Colson Rd., Woodlyn
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$26,436 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Eddystone El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1410 E. 9th Street, Eddystone
👥
230 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$26,436 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Parkside El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 2 East Forestview Road, Parkside
👥
261 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,550 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 62 Off-Campus Students
C+
Widener University
5,610 students · 1.5 mi
C
Neumann University
2,171 students · 4.0 mi
D
All-State Career School
831 students · 4.1 mi
B+
Swarthmore College
1,644 students · 4.3 mi
D
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
662 students · 4.4 mi
B
Williamson College of the Trades
313 students · 5.0 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Springfield
174 students · 6.5 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine
1,223 students · 6.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of investing works in Chester, PA?

The best-fit strategy in Chester, PA is value-add and BRRRR deals. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Is the 1% rule achievable in Chester, PA?

The 1% rule in Chester, PA is reasonable to achieve. Rent-to-price at the median ($1,291/mo on $109K) lands around 1.18%.

Where do rents currently stand in Chester, PA?

Rental rates in Chester, PA average $1,291/mo. Tenant demand and $109K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How well does BRRRR work in Chester, PA?

Operators BRRRR-ing in Chester, PA report a strong results. Focus on sub-market acquisition and tight rehab budgets to capture the spread.

How does Chester, PA stack up for property investment?

Our data puts Chester, PA at 5.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $109K and rents around $1,291/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

You know 19013 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 19013 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 19013 ranks in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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