Chester, VA 278 Apartments for Rent

Despite the area having the lowest crime rate in the Richmond metropolitan area, residents still sleep with one eye open, since the ghosts of civil war battles and the “Lady in Red” ghost of Wrexham Hall are rumored to live nearby.

Chester is a bedroom community of Richmond that puts up a good fight against being immersed in the area’s suburban sprawl. It originally was only a train station at the midpoint of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad and the site of the little-known Battle of Chester Station near the end of the Civil War. Over the next century, the farms and forests surrounding the station gave way to the residential neighborhoods of this small commuter town, located about 15 miles south of downtown Richmond. Chester may be the place for you if you're looking for new apartments with ample amenities, better-than-average schools, and easy access to chain stores and golf courses, 

Tips for Renting in Chester

Most businesses and residential neighborhoods in Chester have been built within the last few decades, although they are often interspersed with historical houses and buildings, many of which are reportedly haunted. Wrexham Hall, for example, was built in the late 1700s by Captain Archibald Walthall, and the ghost of his daughter Susannah continues to haunt the building’s grounds, or so they say. But have no fear; you need not worry about renting a haunted apartment, because most rental units in Chester are fairly new and assumedly ghost-free. With Chester’s somewhat low vacancy rate of 4.4 percent, however, you will need to be somewhat strategic in finding the perfect home or apartment to rent. Plan to begin looking for apartments at least 2 months prior to moving from your current home.   

How Much will it Cost?

The median gross rent in Chester is only slightly higher than that of Richmond’s, but expect to pay a bit more to live near the Village Green, Chester’s new town center. In general, the rent for one and two-bedroom units in Chester ranges depending on the age and amenities offered by the apartment complex. Similarly, monthly rent for three and four-bedroom units average a little bit higher. Note that few if any properties offer studio apartments.

Neighborhoods

Village Green: The town strives to maintain a community-oriented village feel with the recent construction of the stylish Village Green in “downtown” Chester. The Village Green includes a fairly new library, shops, a few restaurants, condos, apartments and single-family homes. $$$

Areas outside of downtown Chester: Other neighborhoods generally are surrounded by shopping centers and highways, although apartment complexes often are located on beautiful grounds with ponds and forested areas nearby. Common amenities of these properties include pools, gyms, tennis courts and pet-friendly management. Woof woof. Meow. $$