United States › Michigan › Chelsea CITY
Chelsea Michigan · 5,424 residents (2025 est.) · 3.62 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
Chelsea is home to 5,426 people in Michigan. The median age is 51.2, about 12 years above the US median. This is an unusually credentialed place: 52% of adults have a four-year degree. The foreign-born share is 0%. Poverty is uncommon here, at 4.1% of locals. The population is up 23% since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 51.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
52% 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 4,398 in 2000
5,424 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,501 / sq mi
+9%since 2009
from 1,372 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 42.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K 4K 5K 5K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Chelsea Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $72,098
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,132 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $27,608 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 37.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.423 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 9.4%
Transportation & warehousing 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.1%
Education & health services 1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$312,700
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $160,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,619
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $681 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 66.5% in 2000
37.0% rent
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
1.90 people
−13%since 2009
from 2.18 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 30.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 55.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.7 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 96.6%(4,249)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(36)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 95.7%(5,193)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(34)
from 9 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
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data from 40.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 92.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 14.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 17.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 84.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 53.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 83.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 54.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 8.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 76.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 92.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 85.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 71.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 22.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 28.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 6.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 5.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 90.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 34.5% 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) 47.4%(174)
Share of the 367 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
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Chelsea, Michigan? Chelsea, Michigan has about 5,426 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Chelsea, Michigan? The typical household in Chelsea, Michigan earns about $72,098 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Chelsea, Michigan expensive? In Chelsea, Michigan, the median home is worth about $312,700, and the typical rent is about $1,619 a month.
How educated are people in Chelsea, Michigan? About 51.8% of adults age 25 and over in Chelsea, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Chelsea, Michigan? About 4.1% of people in Chelsea, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.
Has Chelsea, Michigan grown since 1990? Yes, Chelsea, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,654 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.
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