The Town FilesChelsea, Michigan
City in Washtenaw County · population 5,467 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $312,700
- Household income
- $72,098
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 51.2
Chelsea is a city of 5,467 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $312,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 100% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 94% of Michigan towns.
How Chelsea ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chelsea is worth $312,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $72,098, which is more affordable than 5% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,619 a month. 63.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chelsea | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $312,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,619 | $955 |
| Median household income | $72,098 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Chelsea
| People | Chelsea | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 26.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Chelsea
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chelsea since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 15, 2012 about 6.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 26, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 15, 2012.
Severe weather in Washtenaw County since 1996
Washtenaw County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County had 217,948 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $74,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Chelsea itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Chelsea
4 public schools with 2,256 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea High School | 9-12 | 781 | 16.3 |
| Beach Middle School | 6-8 | 520 | 16.8 |
| North Creek Elementary School | PK-2 | 486 | 15.2 |
| South Meadows Elementary School | 3-5 | 469 | 18.0 |
Towns near Chelsea
- Sylvan, MI3.3 mi · 3,311 people · home $396,200
- Lima, MI4.0 mi · 4,024 people · home $404,700
- Lyndon, MI6.0 mi · 2,656 people · home $350,200
- Dexter, MI6.4 mi · 6,696 people · home $466,300
- Dexter, MI7.2 mi · 4,500 people · home $421,000
- Scio, MI9.0 mi · 17,552 people · home $519,100
- Waterloo, MI9.5 mi · 2,931 people · home $243,600
- Grass Lake, MI9.8 mi · 6,069 people · home $297,300
Chelsea questions
Is Chelsea, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chelsea scores better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns and quieter than 15%. 34.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.2).
How much does a house cost in Chelsea?
The median owner-occupied home in Chelsea is valued at $312,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,098, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,619 a month.
What is the weather like in Chelsea?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 32.9 inches of snow.
Does Chelsea get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chelsea since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 15, 2012. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)