Chelsea, Massachusetts
Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Chelsea, compared with Massachusetts and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.
Chelsea city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 2513205 · Massachusetts directory
- Population · July 1, 2025
- 40,130 PEP Vintage 2025
- Change · 2024 to 2025
- -0.1% -44 residents
- Household income
- $72,179 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$7,994
- Home value
- $493,500 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$23,573
- Monthly gross rent
- $1,956 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$96
- Median age
- 34.4 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±1.3
Chelsea is an incorporated city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, part of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area. With 40,130 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 37th in Massachusetts and 1,038th nationally among Census places. Its population fell by 44 (0.1%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has declined 1.5%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $1,956 a month, 11.0% above the Massachusetts median. Median household income is $72,179, 30.6% below the Massachusetts median.
Detailed demographics → Housing and cost-of-living context →
What stands out in Chelsea?
Compared with other Massachusetts places, Chelsea is most distinctive for more renters, more foreign-born residents and higher unemployment. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.
- Homeownership rate: 26.0%, 36.5 percentage points below the Massachusetts rate (62.5%); lower than 99% of 58 Massachusetts places with reliable estimates. Only 0 of 58 Massachusetts places with reliable estimates are lower.
- Foreign-born residents: 46.1%, 28.0 percentage points above the Massachusetts rate (18.0%); higher than 99% of 57 Massachusetts places with reliable estimates. It ranks 1st of 57 in Massachusetts.
- Unemployment rate (civilian labor force): 9.2%, 4.0 percentage points above the Massachusetts rate (5.2%); higher than 99% of 56 Massachusetts places with reliable estimates. It ranks 1st of 56 in Massachusetts.
- Median real estate taxes paid: $3,321, 44.6% below the Massachusetts median ($5,992); lower than 97% of 57 Massachusetts places with reliable estimates. Only 1 of 57 Massachusetts places with reliable estimates are lower.
- Residents per square mile of land: 18,085; higher than 95% of 58 Massachusetts places with reliable estimates. It ranks 3rd of 58 in Massachusetts.
How Chelsea compares with Massachusetts and the U.S.
| Measure | Chelsea | Massachusetts | U.S. | Position in Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 | -1.5% | — | — | lower than 90% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 | 18,085 | — | — | higher than 95% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Median household income B19013 | $72,179 ±$7,994 | $103,960 | $80,734 | lower than 73% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Median home value B25077 | $493,500 ±$23,573 | $562,100 | $332,700 | lower than 52% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Median real estate taxes paid B25103 | $3,321 ±$417 | $5,992 | $3,119 | lower than 97% of 57 Massachusetts places |
| Median gross rent B25064 | $1,956 ±$96 | $1,762 | $1,413 | higher than 68% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 | 59.4% ±5.1 pp | 51.8% | 51.1% | higher than 81% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Homeownership rate B25003 | 26.0% ±3.0 pp | 62.5% | 65.2% | lower than 99% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Median age B01002 | 34.4 years ±1.3 | 40.0 years | 38.9 years | lower than 86% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 | 22.2% ±2.0 pp | 47.3% | 35.7% | lower than 90% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Poverty rate B17001 | 20.7% ±3.3 pp | 10.0% | 12.5% | higher than 93% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| People without health insurance B27010 | 3.4% ±1.0 pp | 2.6% | 8.4% | higher than 59% of 50 Massachusetts places |
| Households with a broadband subscription B28002 | 86.6% ±1.2 pp | 92.8% | 91.0% | lower than 92% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 | 9.2% ±2.6 pp | 5.2% | 5.2% | higher than 99% of 56 Massachusetts places |
| Foreign-born residents B05002 | 46.1% ±3.1 pp | 18.0% | 14.1% | higher than 99% of 57 Massachusetts places |
| Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP | 40.2 | — | — | lower than 50% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 | -7.0% | — | — | lower than 88% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Workers who work from home B08301 | 10.4% ±2.2 pp | 18.6% | 15.1% | lower than 69% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 | 28.1% ±2.6 pp | 21.5% | 16.5% | higher than 80% of 58 Massachusetts places |
| Households without a vehicle B08201 | 28.4% ±3.6 pp | 11.7% | 8.4% | higher than 95% of 56 Massachusetts places |
Positions compare Chelsea with Massachusetts places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation.
How many people live in Chelsea?
The latest official estimate is 40,130 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 1,038th by population nationally and 37th in Massachusetts among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 44 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.
| Reference date | Population | Change from previous estimate |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2020 | 40,543 | Separate from April 2020 base |
| July 1, 2021 | 39,594 | -949 |
| July 1, 2022 | 39,536 | -58 |
| July 1, 2023 | 39,568 | +32 |
| July 1, 2024 | 40,174 | +606 |
| July 1, 2025 | 40,130 | -44 |
From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is −616 residents (-1.5%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.
Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release
Where are the boundaries?
- Entity and stable identifier
- Chelsea city, Massachusetts · Incorporated city · 2513205
- Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
- Suffolk County
- Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH — Metropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
- Land area
- 2.2 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Water area
- 0.2 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Approximate population density
- 18,085 residents per square mile of land
- Internal point
- 42.396824°, -71.031348° · Census geographic reference point
Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .
Income and poverty
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income Households · USD/year | $72,179 ±$7,994 | $103,960 ±$527 | $80,734 ±$166 |
| Per-capita income Total population · USD/year | $32,986 ±$1,948 | $57,897 ±$291 | $44,673 ±$122 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty level | 8,102 ±1,274 | 20.7% ±3.3 pp |
Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 20.7% (±3.3 percentage points) under the official Census definition.
Home values, rent and tenure
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD | $493,500 ±$23,573 | $562,100 ±$2,169 | $332,700 ±$236 |
| Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month | $1,956 ±$96 | $1,762 ±$9 | $1,413 ±$2 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Owner occupied | 3,568 ±445 | 26.0% ±3.0 pp |
| Renter occupied | 10,148 ±681 | 74.0% ±3.6 pp |
Owner-occupied units make up 26.0% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 6.8 times the median household income.
See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .
Monthly rent by bedroom count
| Bedrooms | Monthly gross rent | 90% margin of error | Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | $1,795 | ±$424 | Estimate with MOE |
| 1 bedroom | $1,378 | ±$247 | Estimate with MOE |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,049 | ±$113 | Estimate with MOE |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,050 | ±$152 | Estimate with MOE |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,591 | ±$237 | Estimate with MOE |
| 5 or more bedrooms | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .
Employment among residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force | 21,374 ±948 | 68.2% ±2.5 pp |
| Not in the labor force | 9,958 ±768 | 31.8% ±2.3 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian employed | 19,414 ±969 | 90.8% ±2.1 pp |
| Civilian unemployed | 1,960 ±571 | 9.2% ±2.6 pp |
These estimates describe residents of Chelsea wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Chelsea. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.
Which industries employ residents?
Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 21.4% (4,164 people; ±2.8 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining | 57 ±54 · low precision | 0.3% ±0.3 pp · low precision |
| Construction | 2,649 ±564 | 13.6% ±2.8 pp |
| Manufacturing | 1,053 ±236 | 5.4% ±1.2 pp |
| Wholesale trade | 839 ±273 | 4.3% ±1.4 pp |
| Retail trade | 1,618 ±328 | 8.3% ±1.6 pp |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 1,648 ±387 | 8.5% ±1.9 pp |
| Information | 92 ±57 · low precision | 0.5% ±0.3 pp · low precision |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 835 ±238 | 4.3% ±1.2 pp |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services | 2,406 ±407 | 12.4% ±2.0 pp |
| Education, health care and social assistance | 4,164 ±575 | 21.4% ±2.8 pp |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services | 2,682 ±526 | 13.8% ±2.6 pp |
| Other services, except public administration | 774 ±250 | 4.0% ±1.3 pp |
| Public administration | 597 ±185 | 3.1% ±0.9 pp |
Occupations among employed residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | 5,375 ±571 | 27.7% ±2.6 pp |
| Service occupations | 4,810 ±558 | 24.8% ±2.6 pp |
| Sales and office | 3,369 ±545 | 17.4% ±2.7 pp |
| Natural resources, construction and maintenance | 2,928 ±577 | 15.1% ±2.9 pp |
| Production, transportation and material moving | 2,932 ±537 | 15.1% ±2.7 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management occupations | 1,487 ±283 | 7.7% ±1.4 pp |
| Computer and mathematical occupations | 361 ±138 | 1.9% ±0.7 pp |
| Educational instruction and library occupations | 729 ±233 | 3.8% ±1.2 pp |
| Health practitioners and technical occupations | 738 ±281 | 3.8% ±1.4 pp |
| Sales and related occupations | 1,220 ±248 | 6.3% ±1.2 pp |
| Transportation occupations | 1,185 ±297 | 6.1% ±1.5 pp |
The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.
How residents get to work
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 8,669 ±722 | 46.1% ±2.9 pp |
| Carpooled | 2,594 ±576 | 13.8% ±3.0 pp |
| Public transportation | 3,920 ±661 | 20.9% ±3.3 pp |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | 159 ±89 · low precision | 0.8% ±0.5 pp · low precision |
| Motorcycle | 25 ±41 · low precision | 0.1% ±0.2 pp · low precision |
| Bicycle | 69 ±52 · low precision | 0.4% ±0.3 pp · low precision |
| Walked | 994 ±273 | 5.3% ±1.4 pp |
| Other means | 397 ±233 · low precision | 2.1% ±1.2 pp · low precision |
| Worked from home | 1,959 ±420 | 10.4% ±2.2 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 minutes | 2,979 ±466 | 17.7% ±2.5 pp |
| 15–29 minutes | 4,783 ±603 | 28.4% ±3.1 pp |
| 30–44 minutes | 4,329 ±556 | 25.7% ±2.9 pp |
| 45–59 minutes | 1,750 ±317 | 10.4% ±1.8 pp |
| 60 minutes or longer | 2,986 ±426 | 17.7% ±2.3 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| No vehicle available | 3,896 ±528 | 28.4% ±3.6 pp |
Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.
Households and residents
Median age is 34.4 years (±1.3). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with Massachusetts and the U.S.
How many jobs are located in Chelsea?
Employers in Chelsea reported 15,889 jobs in 2023, -7.0% compared with 2019 (17,082 jobs). That is 40.2 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.
| Industry | Jobs | Share of local jobs | Massachusetts share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 2,672 | 16.8% | 17.6% |
| Public administration | 2,155 | 13.6% | 4.1% |
| Retail trade | 1,766 | 11.1% | 9.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 1,487 | 9.4% | 3.3% |
| Administrative, support and waste management services | 1,483 | 9.3% | 5.1% |
| Educational services | 1,459 | 9.2% | 11.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,072 | 6.7% | 8.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 876 | 5.5% | 2.8% |
| Manufacturing | 865 | 5.4% | 6.6% |
| Other services, except public administration | 492 | 3.1% | 3.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 419 | 2.6% | 2.0% |
| Construction | 328 | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 315 | 2.0% | 10.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 252 | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 145 | 0.9% | 4.7% |
| Information | 53 | 0.3% | 2.9% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 45 | 0.3% | 1.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 5 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| Group | Jobs | Share | Massachusetts share |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,250 a month or less | 2,324 | 14.6% | 16.1% |
| $1,251 to $3,333 a month | 3,870 | 24.4% | 19.1% |
| More than $3,333 a month | 9,695 | 61.0% | 64.8% |
| Age 29 or younger | 3,043 | 19.2% | 22.4% |
| Age 30 to 54 | 8,509 | 53.6% | 51.5% |
| Age 55 or older | 4,337 | 27.3% | 26.1% |
Health care and social assistance is the largest sector for jobs located in Chelsea (16.8% of local jobs, compared with 17.6% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.
Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.
Nearby station climate normals
BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, MA (NOAA station USW00014739) is approximately 4.4 km from this place’s Census internal point. The table describes that station’s 1991–2020 climate normals, using NOAA’s corrected version 1.0.1. It is historical station context, rather than a forecast or an average across the city.
| Month | Average daily high (°F) | Average daily low (°F) | Precipitation (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36.8 | 23.1 | 3.39 |
| February | 39.0 | 24.6 | 3.21 |
| March | 45.5 | 31.1 | 4.17 |
| April | 56.4 | 40.8 | 3.63 |
| May | 66.5 | 50.3 | 3.25 |
| June | 76.2 | 59.7 | 3.89 |
| July | 82.1 | 66.0 | 3.27 |
| August | 80.4 | 65.1 | 3.23 |
| September | 73.1 | 58.2 | 3.56 |
| October | 62.1 | 47.5 | 4.03 |
| November | 51.6 | 37.9 | 3.66 |
| December | 42.2 | 29.2 | 4.30 |
Station location: 42.3606°, -71.0106°; elevation 3.7 meters. We select the nearest station within 25 km with all 12 months of high/low temperature and precipitation marked “S” (standard) by NOAA. Standard normals meet NOAA’s data-availability rules and can include estimated missing months. Distance is a straight-line great-circle calculation from the Census internal point. Coastal exposure, elevation and urban conditions can differ between the station and an address. NOAA normals and definitions · Original station CSV · Retained station data, flags and matching details .
Check a specific address before moving
City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
- NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
- FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
- Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.
Sources and data notes
Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.
Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.