Cost to Own
United StatesMarylandQueen Anne's CountyChester Population 4,539 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Chester, Maryland

A $441,000 home here costs

$3,319

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,267. The real number is $1,052 higher every month — 46% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Chester median: $441,200
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $352,800 borrowed $2,267
Property tax0.844% effective rate for Chester itself $310
Homeowners insuranceMaryland averages $1,238/yr (NAIC), or 0.3% of home value $110
Electricity21.77¢/kWh — Maryland residential average, EIA $196
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $368
Total monthly $3,319

Chester against Queen Anne's County and Maryland

MeasureChesterQueen Anne's County
Median home value$441,200$441,800
Median property tax$3,722$3,503
Effective tax rate0.844%0.793%
Median gross rent$1,849$1,611
Population4,53950,951

The weather behind that power bill

Chester sits in Queen Anne's County, which averages a high of 86.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 29.8°F in its coldest, with 43.99" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,436 cooling and 4,062 heating degree days, which is what sets the $196 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Queen Anne's County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Queen Anne's County

Full Queen Anne's County cost breakdown · Every county in Maryland

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Chester?

A $441,000 home in Chester, Maryland costs approximately $3,319 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $2,267 principal and interest, $310 property tax, $110 homeowners insurance, $264 utilities and $368 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Chester?

Chester has an effective property tax rate of 0.844%, based on a median home value of $441,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,722. That is higher than the Queen Anne's County average of 0.793%.

What is the average home price in Chester?

The median owner-occupied home value in Chester, Maryland is $441,200, against $441,800 across Queen Anne's County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Chester?

Median gross rent in Chester is $1,849 a month, against $3,319 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Chester — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Maryland.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology