CensusEasy
CITY

Chelsea

Iowa · 208 residents (2025 est.) · 1.013 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Chelsea has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,313. Population has grown 41% since 2000. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value is $43,500. At a median age of 31.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 46% less than the Iowa median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 22%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
404
+41%since 2000
from 287 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
399 / sq mi
+41%since 2000
from 283 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
31.6
−5%since 2000
from 33.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:208 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1662312963614261990201020202024Chelsea
2024404
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,313
−28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,625 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,694
+67%since 2000
from $13,608 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.2%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 19.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.515
+37%since 2010
from 0.377 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade46%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade35.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance2%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Information1.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 5.1%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$43,500
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Owner-occupied
96.3%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 87.8% in 2000
3.7% rent
Vacancy rate
16.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
38.1%
+19.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
25.0%
−75.0 ptssince 2009
from 100.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.1
+8%since 2000
from 1.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
8
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chelsea on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic67.2%(193)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino31.4%(90)
Asian0.7%(2)
Other0%
Diversity Score55.2%(158)
2024
White, non-Hispanic45.5%(184)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino48%(194)
Asian0%(0)
Other6.4%(26)
Diversity Score69.7%(282)
Diversity Score
70
+26%since 2000
from 55 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
6.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 6.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
54.4%
−23.5 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
1.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 1.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.8 min
+39%since 2000
from 23.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.4%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 69.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
18.0%
−12.3 ptssince 2009
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.8%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% 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
3.7%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.1%
−11.6 ptssince 2011
from 72.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
5.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
7.3%
−36.9 ptssince 2009
from 44.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
57.4%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Female
42.6%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Foreign born
21.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.7%
−46.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.6%
+11.0 ptssince 2012
from 2.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.7%
−83.3 ptssince 2013
from 91.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
63.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2017
from 63.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
57.6%
+4.9 ptssince 2016
from 52.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
42.4%
−4.0 ptssince 2016
from 46.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Chelsea

Jacob City
Pop 230
Lake Lindsey
Pop 202
Trilby
Pop 197
Maxeys
Pop 225
Places similar to Chelsea
Head to head

Compare Chelsea to nearby cities

CHELSEA VS
Grinnell
Income$65,320+62%
Home value$209,500+382%
Population9,430+4434%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHELSEA VS
Marshalltown
Income$69,068+71%
Home value$127,700+194%
Population27,536+13138%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHELSEA VS
Newton
Income$57,771+43%
Home value$153,700+253%
Population15,741+7468%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHELSEA VS
Cedar Rapids
Income$70,424+75%
Home value$187,100+330%
Population137,935+66215%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chelsea, Iowa?

Chelsea, Iowa has about 404 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chelsea, Iowa?

The typical household in Chelsea, Iowa earns about $40,313 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chelsea, Iowa expensive?

In Chelsea, Iowa, the median home is worth about $43,500.

How educated are people in Chelsea, Iowa?

About 6.6% of adults age 25 and over in Chelsea, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chelsea, Iowa?

About 25.2% of people in Chelsea, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chelsea, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Chelsea, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 73 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Iowa
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Chelsea with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →