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

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

71.5% (±13.6 points) of renting households in Chelsea, MI spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

66.9% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 47.2% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 71.5% (±13.6 points)
Paying 35% or more: 66.9% (±12.7 points)
Median share of income: 47.2% (±25.2 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	Washtenaw County	Michigan	United States
Less than 15%	8.2% (±5.9 points)	11.3%	13.5%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	4.6% (±3.7 points)	10.8%	12.2%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	9.6% (±6.1 points)	11.1%	12.4%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	6.1% (±5.0 points)	10.8%	11.5%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	4.6% (±5.0 points)	8.2%	9.0%	9.2%
35% or more	66.9% (±12.7 points)	47.9%	41.4%	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 Washtenaw County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Chelsea	Washtenaw County	Michigan	United States
Paying 30% or more	71.5% (±13.6 points)	56.1% (±2.1 points)	50.4% (±0.4 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	66.9% (±12.7 points)	47.9% (±1.8 points)	41.4% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	47.2% (±25.2 points)	33.7% (±1.1 points)	30.2% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$41,183 (±$3,112)	$48,680 (±$2,201)	$42,352 (±$376)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,619 (±$148)	$1,463 (±$21)	$1,129 (±$4)	$1,413

In Chelsea, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in Washtenaw County (56.1%).

It is also higher than in Michigan (50.4%).

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

In Washtenaw County, Chelsea ranks 2 of 26 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 155 of 1,485.

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	—	71.5% (±13.6 points)	—
Sylvan Township (Washtenaw County)	3.3 mi	20.3% (±42.8 points)	Lower
Lima Township	4.0 mi	5.8% (±19.1 points)	Lower
Lyndon Township	6.0 mi	0.0% (±141.4 points)	Not measurably different
Dexter Township	6.4 mi	18.3% (±38.6 points)	Lower
Dexter	7.2 mi	57.0% (±25.8 points)	Not measurably different
Freedom Township	7.4 mi	26.7% (±20.1 points)	Lower
Sharon Township	7.9 mi	40.0% (±66.0 points)	Not measurably different
Scio Township	9.0 mi	53.3% (±16.1 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Sylvan Township (Washtenaw County), MI (20.3%), Lima Township, MI (5.8%), Dexter Township, MI (18.3%).

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 Washtenaw County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Saline Township	85.3% (±54.7 points)
2	Chelsea	71.5% (±13.6 points)
3	Bridgewater Township	71.4% (±62.5 points)
4	Manchester Township	67.6% (±19.7 points)
5	Ann Arbor	60.5% (±3.1 points)
6	Ypsilanti	58.0% (±6.4 points)
7	Dexter	57.0% (±25.8 points)
8	Milan	56.5% (±16.5 points)

Showing 8 of 26 places in Washtenaw County, ranked from highest to lowest.

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?

71.5% 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, MI spends 47.2% (±25.2 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, Michigan (place:15020, in state:26).

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.