How many renters in Chelsea, MA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Chelsea, MA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

59.4% (±5.5 points) of renting households in Chelsea, MA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

49.4% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 34.7% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 59.4% (±5.5 points)
Paying 35% or more: 49.4% (±4.7 points)
Median share of income: 34.7% (±2.5 points)

Rent as a share of income in Chelsea

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Chelsea	Suffolk County	Massachusetts	United States
Less than 15%	10.7% (±3.1 points)	12.5%	12.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	7.8% (±2.0 points)	11.1%	11.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	10.2% (±2.2 points)	12.1%	12.3%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.9% (±2.5 points)	12.2%	12.0%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	10.0% (±2.9 points)	9.9%	10.0%	9.2%
35% or more	49.4% (±4.7 points)	42.1%	41.8%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Chelsea against Suffolk County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Chelsea	Suffolk County	Massachusetts	United States
Paying 30% or more	59.4% (±5.5 points)	52.0% (±1.1 points)	51.8% (±0.5 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	49.4% (±4.7 points)	42.1% (±0.9 points)	41.8% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	34.7% (±2.5 points)	31.0% (±0.5 points)	30.9% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$54,406 (±$8,908)	$69,876 (±$1,697)	$60,987 (±$576)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,956 (±$96)	$2,129 (±$24)	$1,762 (±$9)	$1,413

In Chelsea, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in Suffolk County (52.0%).

It is also higher than in Massachusetts (51.8%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Suffolk County, Chelsea ranks 1 of 4 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 80 of 351.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Chelsea

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Chelsea
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Chelsea	—	59.4% (±5.5 points)	—
Everett	1.3 mi	56.4% (±5.3 points)	Not measurably different
Malden	2.6 mi	51.2% (±4.9 points)	Lower
Revere	2.7 mi	57.9% (±5.7 points)	Not measurably different
Winthrop Town	3.4 mi	53.6% (±8.4 points)	Not measurably different
Somerville	3.6 mi	36.2% (±3.0 points)	Lower
Boston	4.1 mi	51.2% (±1.2 points)	Lower
Melrose	4.3 mi	50.3% (±7.6 points)	Not measurably different
Medford	4.4 mi	41.0% (±4.3 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Malden, MA (51.2%), Somerville, MA (36.2%), Boston, MA (51.2%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Suffolk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Chelsea	59.4% (±5.5 points)
2	Revere	57.9% (±5.7 points)
3	Winthrop Town	53.6% (±8.4 points)
4	Boston	51.2% (±1.2 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Chelsea

Are renters in Chelsea rent-burdened?

59.4% of renting households in Chelsea pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Chelsea spend on rent?

The median renting household in Chelsea, MA spends 34.7% (±2.5 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Chelsea city, Massachusetts (place:13205, in state:25).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.