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CITY · 2010 ACS

Chelsea

Massachusetts · 35,177 residents · 2.219 sq mi
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The short version

Chelsea has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $40,487. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $318,000. At a median age of 31.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 37% less than the Massachusetts median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 31.8
US median: 37.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
35,177
Unchangedsince 2000
from 35,080 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
15,853 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2000
from 15,809 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
31.8
+2%since 2000
from 31.3 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
28K31K35K38K42K1990201020202024Chelsea
202440K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,487
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,161 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,630
+27%since 2000
from $14,628 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
21.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
24.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 23.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade11.7%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade8.3%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services5.6%
US avg: 7%
Transportation & warehousing5.2%
US avg: 3.1%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$318,000
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $163,200 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,006
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $695 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
23.3%
−5.7 ptssince 2000
from 28.9% in 2000
71.3% rent
Vacancy rate
8.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
57.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 58.1% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
56.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
7.9
+45%since 2000
from 5.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chelsea on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic38.3%(13,424)
Black5.6%(1,971)
Hispanic / Latino48.4%(16,984)
Asian4.6%(1,614)
Other0%
Diversity Score73.6%(25,819)
2010
White, non-Hispanic25.2%(8,882)
Black6.7%(2,341)
Hispanic / Latino62.1%(21,855)
Asian3%(1,052)
Other3.9%(1,362)
Diversity Score68.9%(24,250)
Diversity Score
69
−6%since 2000
from 74 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.6%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
65.6%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 59.5% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.6 min
+32%since 2000
from 22.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
50.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
23.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
1.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
9.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
32.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
9.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
19.5%
−35.4 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Foreign born
42.0%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 38.0% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
4.6%
−42.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Chelsea

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Pop 39,357
Oakland Park
Pop 45,332
DeLand
Pop 46,346
Greenacres
Pop 44,736
Places similar to Chelsea
Head to head

Compare Chelsea to nearby cities

CHELSEA VS
Everett
Income$85,218+110%
Home value$610,000+92%
Population53,572+33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHELSEA VS
Malden
Income$100,606+148%
Home value$633,500+99%
Population66,370+65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHELSEA VS
Revere
Income$86,969+115%
Home value$597,400+88%
Population60,141+50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHELSEA VS
Winthrop
Income$116,167+187%
Home value$649,600+104%
Population18,647−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chelsea, Massachusetts?

Chelsea, Massachusetts has about 35,177 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chelsea, Massachusetts?

The typical household in Chelsea, Massachusetts earns about $40,487 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chelsea, Massachusetts expensive?

In Chelsea, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $318,000, and the typical rent is about $1,006 a month.

How educated are people in Chelsea, Massachusetts?

About 13.6% of adults age 25 and over in Chelsea, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chelsea, Massachusetts?

About 24.2% of people in Chelsea, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chelsea, Massachusetts grown since 1990?

Yes, Chelsea, Massachusetts has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,467 residents, a change of about 23 percent over that period.

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

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