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Chelsea, MA

Full City Profile · Massachusetts · Suffolk County County

2.5 /5.0
C+ Fair
39,460 Population 17,775/sq mi density
$72,220 Median Income $31,544 per capita
$476,500 Home Value $515,982 Zillow
$1,859 Median Rent 32.9% income on rent
52°F Avg Temperature 246 sunny days/yr
667 Violent Crime/100K 1,467 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.5 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$72,220 median income, 5.9% unemployment
C+
Affordability
2.9 / 5.0
$476,500 home value, $1,859/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
667 violent crimes/100K (75% above avg)
C+
Education
2.8 / 5.0
22.0% bachelor's degree or higher

Chelsea, MA

At a Glance

Median Income
$72,220
4% below
$31,544 per capita
Home Value
$476,500
69% above
Zillow: $515,982
Median Rent
$1,859/mo
60% above
32.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
667/100K
75% above
1,467/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
22.0%
35% below
69.1% high school+
Unemployment
5.9%
64% above
16.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
28.8%
10% below
15.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
52°F
246 sunny days/yr

How Chelsea Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Chelsea's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
96%
Home Value
169%
Rent
160%
Poverty
131%
Bachelor's
65%
Unemployment
164%
Crime
175%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Chelsea a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.5 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Chelsea residents earn a median household income of $72,220 , which is 4% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $31,544. The unemployment rate stands at 5.9% (64% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 16.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 33,364 business establishments, including 2,747 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Chelsea is $476,500 , 69% above the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $515,982. Median rent is $1,859/month, with 32.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 105.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.

Safety & Crime

Chelsea reports 667 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 75% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 1,467/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.

Education

22.0% of adults in Chelsea hold a bachelor's degree or higher (35% below the national average). 69.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Chelsea has an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 246 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 43.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37.

Data Overview

People

Population39,460
Median Age34.5 yrs
Density17,775/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans2.0%

Economy

B
Median Income$72,220
Per Capita$31,544
Unemployment5.9%
Poverty16.3%
County GDP$190,778M
Avg Weekly Wage$2,525

Housing

C+
Home Value$476,500
Rent$1,859
Ownership29.2%
Zillow$515,982
Housing Units14,121
Rent Burden32.9%

Crime

F
Violent667/100K
Property1,467/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault440/100K
Burglary259/100K

Health

Obesity28.8%
Diabetes12.7%
Smoking15.3%
Heart Disease6.4%
Premature Death6,117/100K

Climate

Avg Temp52°F
Sunny Days246/yr
Rain43.6 in/yr
AQI37 (Good)
Elevation20 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+22.0%
High School+69.1%
Graduate+6.7%
School Score5.4/10

Community

2024 VoteR 22% / D 75%
Commute34 min
Broadband85.3%
Internet Speed216 Mbps
EV Stations6
Libraries29

Did You Know?

Chelsea was founded in 1624.
The median home in Chelsea was built in 1938.
20.3% of residents use public transit to commute.
The nearest airport is General Edward Lawrence Logan International (3 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.528 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
13.9% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 216 Mbps.
There are 2,747 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 26 fatal vehicle crashes.