Chelsea is a small city of 15,201 in Alabama, with a median household income of $102,344
and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Chelsea stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Chelsea is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Chelsea city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.6
Chelsea's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Chelsea costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Chelsea, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$295,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,486
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
89.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$102,344
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Chelsea's violent crime rate is 71.2 per 100,000 residents
— 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
71.2 /100k
Property Crime
559.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Chelsea is served primarily by Shelby County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Chelsea, AL
National Avg
School District
Shelby County
—
Elementary Schools
16
—
Middle Schools
7
—
High Schools
9
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
45.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Chelsea sees average highs of 54.8°F in January
and 92.2°F in July,
with 58.5 inches of annual precipitation
.
Chelsea's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Chelsea roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $295,100 and median rent is $1,486/month.
Chelsea's violent crime rate is 71.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 559.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Chelsea are operated by Shelby County.
The district has 16 elementary, 7 middle, and 9 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 45.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Chelsea, AL has a population of 15,201, a median household income of $102,344, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Chelsea averages 54.8°F in January and 92.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.5 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Chelsea, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35043.
The population of Chelsea, Alabama is 15,201 with a median age of 37.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Chelsea: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $295,100, median household income $102,344, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chelsea side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
