The Town FilesChelsea, Massachusetts
City in Suffolk County · population 40,787 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $493,500
- Household income
- $72,179
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 34.4
Chelsea is a city of 40,787 people in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $493,500, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 99% of Massachusetts towns, better transit than 99% of Massachusetts towns.
How Chelsea ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chelsea is worth $493,500, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 6.8 times the median household income of $72,179, which is more affordable than 11% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,956 a month. 26.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chelsea | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $493,500 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,956 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $72,179 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 26.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1941 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Chelsea
| People | Chelsea | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.2% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.7% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 1.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 46.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 32.9 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Chelsea
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 23.1°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chelsea since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 28, 2014 about 0.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 4, 2015.
Severe weather in Suffolk County since 1996
Suffolk County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Suffolk County
Suffolk County had 713,809 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $131,280 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Chelsea itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in Chelsea
23 public schools with 12,375 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea High | 9-12 | 1,680 | 14.5 |
| Excel Academy Charter School (charter) | 5-12 | 1,363 | 10.5 |
| East Boston High School | 7-12 | 1,293 | 12.1 |
| Shurtleff Early Childhood | PK-1 | 806 | 13.7 |
| Clark Avenue School | 5-8 | 678 | 13.3 |
| McKay K-8 School | PK-8 | 670 | 10.3 |
| Mario Umana Academy | PK-8 | 632 | 10.5 |
| Frank M Sokolowski Elementary | 1-4 | 497 | 12.1 |
| George F. Kelly Elementary | 1-6 | 486 | 12.5 |
| Joseph A. Browne School | 5-8 | 485 | 10.1 |
| Edgar A Hooks Elementary | 1-4 | 453 | 11.3 |
| Eugene Wright Science and Technology Academy | 5-8 | 443 | 10.1 |
Towns near Chelsea
- Everett, MA1.3 mi · 49,075 people · home $610,000
- Malden, MA2.6 mi · 66,263 people · home $633,500
- Revere, MA2.7 mi · 62,186 people · home $597,400
- Winthrop Town, MA3.4 mi · 19,316 people · home $649,600
- Somerville, MA3.6 mi · 81,045 people · home $911,300
- Boston, MA4.1 mi · 675,647 people · home $731,700
- Melrose, MA4.3 mi · 29,817 people · home $822,900
- Medford, MA4.4 mi · 59,659 people · home $755,500
Chelsea questions
Is Chelsea, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chelsea scores better for retirees than 0% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 0%. 10.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Chelsea?
The median owner-occupied home in Chelsea is valued at $493,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,179, so homes cost about 6.8 times income. Median rent is $1,956 a month.
What is the weather like in Chelsea?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 23.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 49.2 inches of snow.
Does Chelsea get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chelsea since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 28, 2014. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)