United States › Alabama › Chelsea CITY
Chelsea Alabama · 17,716 residents (2025 est.) · 33.0 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 16,260 people, Chelsea is a city in Alabama. The population has more than tripled since 2000, adding 13,311 people. That is roughly 80% ahead of the Alabama median. Owners hold 90% of the housing stock. That puts it in the top 5% of US cities for household income. This is an unusually credentialed place: 48% of adults have a four-year degree.
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 from 2,949 in 2000
17,716 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
493 / sq mi
+270%since 2009
from 133 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 34.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
119 5K 9K 13K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Chelsea Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $115,337
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,083 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $24,717 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 52.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.341 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 12.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.6%
Transportation & warehousing 4%
Arts, entertainment, food 3.9%
Education & health services 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.6%
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$360,000
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $179,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,414
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $489 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 87.6% in 2000
10.0% rent
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.64 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 42.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.3%(2,841)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(24)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 80.5%(13,086)
from 13 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 29.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 86.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 74.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 69.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 51.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 8.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 7.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 91.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 97.1% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 95.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 20.6%(1,307)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 73.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 12.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 14.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 7.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 85.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 20.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 25.2%(296)
Gulf War (1990s) 33.6%(394)
Share of the 1,174 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Chelsea Head to head
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CHELSEA VS
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CHELSEA VS
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CHELSEA VS
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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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