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CITY

Chelsea

Alabama · 17,716 residents (2025 est.) · 33.003 sq mi
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Part of the Birmingham metro area
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Notable rankings
#289Lowest poverty rateof 6,8232.7%
The short version

Chelsea is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $115,337. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 13,311 residents. 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $360,000. Poverty is rare here, at 2.7% of residents. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,260
+451%since 2000
from 2,949 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
493 / sq mi
+270%since 2009
from 133 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
37.6
+9%since 2000
from 34.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,716 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1195K9K13K18K1990201020202024Chelsea
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(942)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.9%(1,450)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.1%(1,159)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.3%(858)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.5%(889)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.1%(2,128)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.2%(2,317)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.5%(2,038)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.9%(1,941)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.2%(1,655)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.5%(730)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.9%(153)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$115,337
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,083 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$49,712
+101%since 2000
from $24,717 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
74.4%
+21.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
2.7%
−4.5 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.382
+12%since 2010
from 0.341 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services14.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration12.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade4.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food3.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$360,000
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $179,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,414
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $489 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
90.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 87.6% in 2000
10.0% rent
Vacancy rate
3.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.3%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
13.5%
−28.7 ptssince 2009
from 42.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+13%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
52
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chelsea on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.3%(2,841)
Black0.8%(23)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(24)
Asian0.2%(5)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.5%(13,086)
Black8.5%(1,376)
Hispanic / Latino6%(968)
Asian0.7%(108)
Other4.4%(722)
Diversity Score
42
+220%since 2009
from 13 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.2%(691)
Puerto Rican0.9%(152)
Venezuelan0.4%(66)
Colombian0.1%(24)
Asian origin
Chinese0.7%(116)
Korean0.1%(17)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.4%(59)
Ancestry
English16.2%(2,628)
American9.7%(1,583)
Irish8.6%(1,402)
German7%(1,144)
Arab5.4%(881)
Lebanese4%(652)
Scotch-Irish2.6%(417)
Italian2.3%(368)
Polish1.7%(272)
Scottish1.5%(240)
French1.2%(191)
Swedish0.5%(81)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Palestinian0.5%(74)
Dutch0.4%(69)
Belgian0.3%(49)
Austrian0.2%(39)
Syrian0.2%(38)
Norwegian0.2%(31)
Romanian0.2%(27)
Russian0.1%(24)
Ukrainian0.1%(24)
Lithuanian0.1%(22)
Danish0.1%(20)
Greek0.1%(20)
Welsh0.1%(14)
British0.1%(9)
Turkish0.1%(9)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Arab population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
48.5%
+19.5 ptssince 2000
from 29.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.6%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 86.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.8%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.2 min
+64%since 2000
from 20.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.3%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.1%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2011
from 3.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.1%
−6.1 ptssince 2011
from 74.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.9%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
47.4%
−22.5 ptssince 2009
from 69.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Female
48.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.7%
−38.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.9%
+2.4 ptssince 2012
from 8.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.3%
−88.6 ptssince 2013
from 92.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
96.8%
+5.0 ptssince 2017
from 91.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.1%
−3.2 ptssince 2016
from 95.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married20.6%(1,307)
Married71.3%(4,527)
Widowed0.7%(45)
Divorced7.4%(473)
Women 15+
Never married15.2%(964)
Married71.1%(4,523)
Widowed6.3%(403)
Divorced7.3%(467)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 19,796
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Head to head

Compare Chelsea to nearby cities

CHELSEA VS
Pelham
Income$101,094−12%
Home value$299,800−17%
Population25,664+45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHELSEA VS
Meadowbrook
Income$141,862+23%
Home value$423,700+18%
Population9,117−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHELSEA VS
Brook Highland
Income$79,904−31%
Home value$427,400+19%
Population8,146−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHELSEA VS
Hoover
Income$109,253−5%
Home value$412,200+14%
Population93,550+428%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chelsea, Alabama?

Chelsea, Alabama has about 16,260 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chelsea, Alabama?

The typical household in Chelsea, Alabama earns about $115,337 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chelsea, Alabama expensive?

In Chelsea, Alabama, the median home is worth about $360,000, and the typical rent is about $1,414 a month.

How educated are people in Chelsea, Alabama?

About 48.5% of adults age 25 and over in Chelsea, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chelsea, Alabama?

About 2.7% of people in Chelsea, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chelsea, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Chelsea, Alabama has grown since 1990. The population has added about 14,674 residents, a change of about 925 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →