Chelsea, MA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Chelsea, Massachusetts Summary

Life in Chelsea research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Chelsea over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Chelsea:

  • The population in Chelsea is 39,460.

  • The median home value in Chelsea is $525,717.

  • The median income in Chelsea is $72,220.

  • The cost of living in Chelsea is 141 which is 1.4x higher than the national average.

  • The median rent in Chelsea is $1,859.

  • The unemployment rate in Chelsea is 8.8%.

  • The poverty rate in Chelsea is 20.6%.

  • The average high in Chelsea is 59.0° and the average low is 42.1°.

Chelsea SnackAbility

7
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
9
Affordability
3
Diversity
8.5
Safety
5
Amenities
10
Education
5
Commute
4

Chelsea, MA Crime Report

Crime in Chelsea summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Chelsea. Key points include:

  • There were 925 total crimes in Chelsea in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Chelsea is 2,414.7 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Chelsea is 978.9 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Chelsea is 1,435.8 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Chelsea is 13.94% above the national average.

925
Total Crimes
13.94%
Above National Average

Crime In Chelsea Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Chelsea
/ 100k People
Massachusetts
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 925 2,414.7 1,426.8 2,119.2
Violent Crime 375 978.9 314.7 359.0
Murder 2 5.2 1.8 5.0
Robbery 46 120.1 36.0 61.0
Aggravated Assault 296 772.7 249.3 256.0
Property Crime 550 1,435.8 1,112.1 1,760.0
Burglary 57 148.8 130.3 229.0
Larceny 441 1,151.2 876.3 1,272.0
Car Theft 52 135.7 105.5 259.0

Chelsea, MA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Chelsea summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Chelsea. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Massachusetts. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Chelsea is 141 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Chelsea is 1.4x higher than the national average.

  • The median home value in Chelsea is $525,717.

  • The median income in Chelsea is $72,220.

141
Chelsea's Overall Cost Of Living
1.4x
Higher Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Chelsea Comparison Table

Living Expense Chelsea Massachusetts National Average
Overall 141 134 100
Services 120 121 100
Groceries 106 106 100
Health 113 112 100
Housing 185 164 100
Transportation 119 120 100
Utilities 132 136 100

Chelsea, MA Weather

  • The average high in Chelsea is 59.0° and the average low is 42.1°.

  • There are 76.2 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 47.2 inches of precipitation each year with 45.6 inches of snow.

StatChelsea
Average Annual High59.0
Average Annual Low42.1
Annual Precipitation Days76.2
Average Annual Precipitation47.2
Average Annual Snowfall45.6
59.0°
Average High
76.2
Days of Rain

Chelsea, MA Photos

Tobin Bridge Crop
Source: Public Domain
Bellingham Square Historic District Chelsea Ma
Source: Wikipedia User Jameslwoodward | CC BY-SA 3.0
Bellingham Square Historic District Chelsea Ma
Source: Wikipedia User Jameslwoodward | CC BY-SA 3.0
Bellingham Cary House Chelsea Ma
Source: Wikipedia User Jameslwoodward | CC BY-SA 3.0
C Henry Kimball House Chelsea Ma
Source: Wikipedia User Jameslwoodward | CC BY-SA 3.0
Chelsea Garden Cemetery Chelsea Ma
Source: Wikipedia User Jameslwoodward | CC BY-SA 3.0
Congregation Agudath Shalom Chelsea Ma
Source: Wikipedia User Jameslwoodward | CC BY-SA 3.0
Downtown Chelsea Residential Hd Chelsea Ma
Source: Wikipedia User Jameslwoodward | CC BY-SA 3.0
Middle Building
Source: Wikipedia User Mark Spencer | CC BY-SA 3.0

2 Reviews & Comments About Chelsea

Overall User Rating
2.5
/5

lbd sunny - None

I live in Chelsea and grew up in the revere projects one city away I hate this place my boyfriend has lived in Chelsea his whole life and a few summers ago his old friend from high school who lived across the street from him was sitting on his porch with his brother and right in front of him ms-13 came up and shot his brother in the head and then ran they eventually caught both of them and when asked why they killed him they said mistaken identity needless to say his family moved the only reason I'm still here is because I can't find a cheaper apartment


Sarai Rojano - None

I live in Chelsea all my life and it's very calm you don't know just cause you search up in google dont mean it's true Chelsea has grown so much and I disagree

Review Where You Live

Rankings for Chelsea in Massachusetts

Locations Around Chelsea

Map Of Chelsea, MA

Best Places Around Chelsea

1

Lexington, MA
Population 34,085

2

Wellesley, MA
Population 29,906

3

Marblehead, MA
Population 20,334

4

Needham, MA
Population 32,059

5

Newton, MA
Population 88,504

6

Winchester, MA
Population 22,862

7

Reading, MA
Population 25,448

8

Cochituate, MA
Population 6,688

9

Brookline, MA
Population 62,822

10

Pinehurst, MA
Population 6,737

Chelsea Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Chelsea

The current population in Chelsea is 39,460. The population has increased 14.3% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 39,460 -1.1%
2022 39,890 -0.3%
2021 40,025 0.4%
2020 39,878 -0.3%
2019 39,992 0.4%
2018 39,852 1.5%
2017 39,272 2.7%
2016 38,244 1.8%
2015 37,581 1.3%
2014 37,084 2.4%
2013 36,222 2.0%
2012 35,527 1.9%
2011 34,872 1.0%
2010 34,532 -

Race / Ethnicity in Chelsea

White
19.5% (7,710)
African American
6.2% (2,456)
American Indian
0.0% (0)
Asian
2.9% (1,142)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
0.8% (317)
Two Or More
5.6% (2,198)
Hispanic
65.0% (25,637)

Chelsea is:

  • 19.5% White with 7,710 White residents.

  • 6.2% African American with 2,456 African American residents.

  • 0.0% American Indian with 0 American Indian residents.

  • 2.9% Asian with 1,142 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.8% Other with 317 Other residents.

  • 5.6% Two Or More with 2,198 Two Or More residents.

  • 65.0% Hispanic with 25,637 Hispanic residents.

Race Chelsea MA USA
White 19.5% 67.8% 58.2%
African American 6.2% 6.5% 12.0%
American Indian 0.0% 0.1% 0.5%
Asian 2.9% 7.0% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.0% 0.2%
Other 0.8% 1.1% 0.5%
Two Or More 5.6% 4.5% 3.9%
Hispanic 65.0% 12.9% 19.0%

Gender in Chelsea

Female
49.6% (19,568)
Male
50.4% (19,891)
  • Chelsea is 49.6% female with 19,568 female residents.

  • Chelsea is 50.4% male with 19,891 male residents.

Gender Chelsea MA USA
Female 49.6% 51.1% 50.5%
Male 50.4% 48.9% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Chelsea for adults over 25

  • 22.0% of adults in Chelsea completed < 9th grade.

  • 10.0% of adults in Chelsea completed 9-12th grade.

  • 31.0% of adults in Chelsea completed high school / ged.

  • 12.0% of adults in Chelsea completed some college.

  • 4.0% of adults in Chelsea completed associate's degree.

  • 14.0% of adults in Chelsea completed bachelor's degree.

  • 5.0% of adults in Chelsea completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Chelsea completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Chelsea completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
22.0% (8,681)
9-12th Grade
10.0% (3,946)
High School / GED
31.0% (12,232)
Some College
12.0% (4,735)
Associate's Degree
4.0% (1,578)
Bachelor's Degree
14.0% (5,524)
Master's Degree
5.0% (1,973)
Professional Degree
1.0% (394)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (394)
Education Chelsea MA USA
< 9th Grade 22.0% 5.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 10.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 31.0% 23.0% 26.0%
Some College 12.0% 14.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 4.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 14.0% 25.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 5.0% 15.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 3.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 3.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Chelsea, Massachusetts

  • 8.5% of households in Chelsea earn Less than $10,000.

  • 6.8% of households in Chelsea earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 6.9% of households in Chelsea earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 6.5% of households in Chelsea earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 9.7% of households in Chelsea earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 13.8% of households in Chelsea earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.8% of households in Chelsea earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 17.8% of households in Chelsea earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 9.8% of households in Chelsea earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 7.3% of households in Chelsea earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
8.5% (334,031)
$10,000 to $14,999
6.8% (270,198)
$15,000 to $24,999
6.9% (272,821)
$25,000 to $34,999
6.5% (255,915)
$35,000 to $49,999
9.7% (383,290)
$50,000 to $74,999
13.8% (543,893)
$75,000 to $99,999
12.8% (506,876)
$100,000 to $149,999
17.8% (703,039)
$150,000 to $199,999
9.8% (386,205)
$200,000 or more
7.3% (289,726)
Income Chelsea MA USA
Less than $10,000 8.5% 4.3% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 6.8% 3.5% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 6.9% 5.6% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 6.5% 5.1% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 9.7% 7.7% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 13.8% 12.2% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.8% 11.0% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 17.8% 17.7% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 9.8% 11.8% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 7.3% 21.1% 12.6%

Articles About Massachusetts

Enjoy The Snack?