What are the schools like in Chelsea, MI?

Chelsea is served primarily by Chelsea School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.8:1.

What is the median household income in Chelsea?

The median household income in Chelsea, MI is $71,379 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.3%.

What is the weather like in Chelsea, MI?

Chelsea has an average high temperature of 30.6°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 32.9 inches.

Chelsea, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Chelsea, MI affordable or expensive?

Chelsea's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chelsea is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $289,200 and the median rent is $1,564 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Chelsea, MI?

Chelsea has a violent crime rate of 150.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 787.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chelsea, MI a Good Place to Live?

Chelsea is a small town of 5,440 in Michigan, with a median household income of $71,379 and a 1.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Chelsea stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 98.0

Chelsea's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chelsea costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chelsea, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$289,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,564	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,379	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Chelsea's violent crime rate is 150.0 per 100,000 residents — 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

150.0 /100k

Property Crime

787.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Chelsea is served primarily by Chelsea School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chelsea, MI	National Avg
School District	Chelsea School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	49.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chelsea sees average highs of 30.6°F in January and 82.3°F in July, with 34.7 inches of annual precipitation and 32.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chelsea, MI
Average High — January	30.6°F
Average High — July	82.3°F
Annual Precipitation	34.7"
Annual Snowfall	32.9"

Demographics

Metric	Chelsea, MI	National Avg
Population	5,440	—
Median Age	50.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	16.9%	22.2%
65 and over	31.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dexter, MI 7 mi Grass Lake, MI 10 mi Pinckney, MI 11 mi Manchester, MI 11 mi Stockbridge, MI 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Chelsea

Chelsea, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48118

Chelsea vs Other Cities

Chelsea, MI vs Dexter, MI Chelsea, MI vs Grass Lake, MI Chelsea, MI vs Pinckney, MI Chelsea, MI vs Manchester, MI Chelsea, MI vs Stockbridge, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chelsea, MI affordable or expensive?

Chelsea's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chelsea roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $289,200 and median rent is $1,564/month.

What is the crime rate in Chelsea, MI?

Chelsea's violent crime rate is 150.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 787.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chelsea?

Public schools in Chelsea are operated by Chelsea School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. 49.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chelsea, MI a good place to live?

Chelsea, MI has a population of 5,440, a median household income of $71,379, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Chelsea?

Chelsea averages 30.6°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.7 inches with about 32.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chelsea?

Chelsea, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48118.

What is the population of Chelsea?

The population of Chelsea, Michigan is 5,440 with a median age of 50.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chelsea?

Key numbers for living in Chelsea: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $289,200, median household income $71,379, crime index 39 (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.