Property Taxes in Chester, Pennsylvania
Median Chester, Pennsylvania effective property tax rate: 2.73%, significantly higher than the national median of 1.02%, and lower than the Pennsylvania state median of 2.75%.
Median Chester, Pennsylvania home value: $42,000
Median annual Chester, Pennsylvania tax bill: $1,143, $1,257 lower than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Delaware calculated?
Property taxes in Chester, Pennsylvania are calculated based on the tax assessed value, which is often lower than the actual market value due to property tax exemptions such as the homestead or senior exemption.
Understanding Chester's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Chester, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
How Does the Chester Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Chester property tax calculator to estimate your annual property tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Chester's median effective tax rate of 2.73% — based on actual property records in Delaware County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure the local assessment system uses to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Chester's median effective rate across all local levies, providing a more accurate estimate than applying a single county millage rate.
Your bill may vary by ZIP code within Chester: rates range from $1,100.00 in 19015 to $1,144.00 in 19013, primarily due to differences in school district levies and local assessment districts.
For a more precise estimate, scroll down to explore ZIP code-level tax rate trends across Chester.
About Chester Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania
Chester’s median effective property tax rate of 2.73% is lower than the Pennsylvania state median of 2.75% and higher than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the Delaware County base levy combined with local school district levies and special taxing districts that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Chester. Homeowners in ZIP code 19013 carry a median effective rate of 2.73%, while those in 19015 pay 2.73%. This spread — 0.00 percentage points across the same city — reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across Delaware County. Understanding which part of Chester you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Chester homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the Tax Assessor before the August 1, 2026 deadline each year.
If your estimated bill above seems higher than expected, Ownwell can review your assessment and protest on your behalf. You only pay if we save you money.
Property Tax Rates Across Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
As noted earlier, local government entities set tax rates, which can vary widely within a state.
Why? Because annually, each county estimates its required budget to provide services and divides that by the total value of all taxable property within its jurisdiction. This calculation results in the property tax rate.
While there are votes and laws involved in setting tax rates and budgets, in a nutshell, this is the annual process.
Below, you can compare Chester's effective property tax rate to other cities in Pennsylvania and the median property tax rates in Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Chester Tax Rate
2.73%
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Delaware County Tax Rate
2.81%
Median Effective Pennsylvania Tax Rate
2.75%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.27%
Property Tax Rates Across Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19013 | 2.73% | 2.73% | 2.73% | 2.73% | 2.73% |
| 19015 | 2.31% | 2.31% | 2.73% | 2.73% | 2.73% |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
When examining property taxes in Chester, Pennsylvania, understanding the distinction between "market value" and "assessed value" is crucial.
The market value is what a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller in an open and competitive market, often influenced by location, property condition, and economic market trends. The Delaware County assessment office estimates the market value for tax purposes.
The assessed value is the market value minus any applicable exemptions or limits determined by local laws and offerings. The tax assessed value is the figure used to calculate your property taxes or the amount multiplied by your tax rate to get your tax bill.
Assessment notices:
In Delaware County, assessment notices are sent in the spring each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of March.
Each property owner receives an assessment notice that contains both the market value and assessed value, along with an estimate of your property tax bill. By providing insights into how assessed and market values are determined, this section helps property owners navigate their tax responsibilities and understand the valuation processes affecting their property taxes in Chester.
For example, the median home price in Chester is $42,000, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. 19013 has the highest median home price at $42,005.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Source: Ownwell
$40,360
$715,680
$1,391,000
Median Chester Market Value
$42,000
Median Delaware County Market Value
$198,010
Median Pennsylvania Market Value
$118,310
Median United States Market Value
$274,101
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19013 | $23,070 | $29,080 | $42,005 | $66,548 | $93,959 |
| 19015 | $29,870 | $32,758 | $40,360 | $66,125 | $102,938 |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Property tax bills in Chester are calculated by applying the local tax rate to a home’s assessed value, not its market price. The assessed value is the amount the local taxing authority uses to determine what a homeowner owes, and it can be influenced by property characteristics, location, and local assessment practices. For a home with a median price of $42,000, the bill can vary widely depending on how the property is assessed and which taxing jurisdictions apply.
What homeowners pay also depends on where the property is located within Delaware County. The median tax bill is $1,144 in ZIP code 19013 and $1,100 in ZIP code 19015, while the 25th percentile tax bill is $786 and the 75th percentile is $1,797. At the 90th percentile, bills reach $2,547. Compared with the national median property tax bill of $2,400, many Chester homeowners pay less, but rising assessments can still increase annual costs and affect affordability.
Median Chester Tax Bill
$1,143
Median Delaware County Tax Bill
$5,963
Median Pennsylvania Tax Bill
$3,050
Median United States Tax Bill
$3,209
Property Tax Bills Across Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19013 | $610 | $786 | $1,144 | $1,797 | $2,548 |
| 19015 | $736 | $893 | $1,100 | $1,720 | $2,378 |
Source: Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Appeal Deadline | August 1 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| Delaware Tax Assessor | |
| Website | delcorealestate.co.delaware.pa.us |