What percentage of people rent in Chelsea, MA?

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

74.0% (±3.2 points) of the occupied homes in Chelsea, MA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 10,148 renting households against 3,568 that own their home.

In Chelsea, the share of households that rent went from 74.1% in 2015–2019 to 74.0% in 2020–2024 (−0.1 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 74.0% (±3.2 points)
Renting households: 10,148 (±681)
Median renter income: $54,406 (±$8,908)

Who rents and who owns in Chelsea

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Chelsea	Suffolk County	Massachusetts	United States
Renter-occupied share	74.0% (±3.2 points)	63.5% (±0.7 points)	37.5% (±0.3 points)	34.8%
Renting households	10,148 (±681)	207,832 (±2,448)	1,043,884 (±6,942)	45,017,354
Owning households	3,568 (±445)	119,335 (±2,329)	1,741,158 (±8,598)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.8 (±0.2)	2.2 (±0.0)	2.1 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	3.0 (±0.3)	2.4 (±0.0)	2.6 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$54,406 (±$8,908)	$69,876 (±$1,697)	$60,987 (±$576)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$120,257 (±$19,997)	$148,570 (±$3,769)	$135,402 (±$770)	$100,009

In Chelsea, the renter share is higher than in Suffolk County (63.5%).

It is also higher than in Massachusetts (37.5%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In Suffolk County, Chelsea ranks 1 of 4 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 1 of 351.

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

How renting in Chelsea has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	74.1% (±2.5 points)	74.0% (±3.2 points)	−0.1 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$1,419 (±$51)	$1,956 (±$96)	+37.8%	Up after inflation
Median household income	$56,802 (±$4,967)	$72,179 (±$7,994)	+27.1%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near Chelsea

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Chelsea
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Chelsea	—	74.0% (±3.2 points)	—
Everett	1.3 mi	62.8% (±2.8 points)	Lower
Malden	2.6 mi	58.7% (±2.4 points)	Lower
Revere	2.7 mi	54.4% (±3.1 points)	Lower
Winthrop Town	3.4 mi	43.1% (±4.5 points)	Lower
Somerville	3.6 mi	65.8% (±1.8 points)	Lower
Boston	4.1 mi	64.3% (±0.8 points)	Lower
Melrose	4.3 mi	32.8% (±3.1 points)	Lower
Medford	4.4 mi	45.9% (±2.4 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Everett, MA (62.8%), Malden, MA (58.7%), Revere, MA (54.4%).

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

Households that rent across Suffolk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Chelsea	74.0% (±3.2 points)
2	Boston	64.3% (±0.8 points)
3	Revere	54.4% (±3.1 points)
4	Winthrop Town	43.1% (±4.5 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Chelsea

How many renters are there in Chelsea?

Chelsea has an estimated 10,148 (±681) renting households, 74.0% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Chelsea?

In Chelsea, the share of households that rent went from 74.1% in 2015–2019 to 74.0% in 2020–2024 (−0.1 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in Chelsea?

A renting household in Chelsea has 2.8 people on average, against 3.0 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Chelsea?

The median renting household in Chelsea, MA has an income of $54,406 (±$8,908) a year, against $120,257 for households that own their home.

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 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

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.