Population 630 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Chelsea
Household size in Chelsea
| Period | Chelsea | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.80 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.48 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Chelsea holds 2.80 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.33, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Chelsea
| Period | Chelsea | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.6 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.0 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −5.2 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Chelsea is 38.0 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Chelsea
| Period | Chelsea | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Chelsea as they are nationally: 12.0%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Iowa as a whole (10.0%).
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Chelsea
Renters in Chelsea
| Period | Chelsea | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.7% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 2.7% of households in Chelsea rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than half of owners (55.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Chelsea
| Period | Chelsea | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.8% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 18.2% of the housing in Chelsea, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Chelsea
| Period | Chelsea | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1947 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1940 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1948 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1956 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +6 |
Chelsea is a place of older homes: half were built before 1956, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Chelsea
| Period | Chelsea | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $722 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $462 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $574 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $844 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$122 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Chelsea runs $844 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 39.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Chelsea
Bachelor's degrees in Chelsea
| Period | Chelsea | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Chelsea: 8.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Chelsea
| Period | Chelsea | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.2% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.2% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.4% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Chelsea never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Chelsea
| Period | Chelsea | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.5% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Chelsea has been low: just 1.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Chelsea compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 2.80 | 38.0 | 12.0% | 2.7% | 18.2% | 1956 | $844 | 8.7% | 81.4% | 1.2% |
| Irving | 2.69 | 41.5 | 10.7% | 9.1% | 11.7% | 1950 | $846 | 15.0% | 85.8% | 1.4% |
| Vining | 2.22 | 58.7 | 5.4% | 4.9% | 18.2% | 1941 | $1,020 | 8.7% | 95.3% | 2.5% |
| Belle Plaine | 2.30 | 49.0 | 7.2% | 18.2% | 10.7% | 1946 | $870 | 19.3% | 95.4% | 1.3% |
| Hartwick | 1.96 | 51.3 | 5.6% | 11.8% | 25.5% | 1970 | $751 | 18.4% | 93.6% | 3.8% |
| Elberon | 2.35 | 52.8 | 8.4% | 11.2% | 14.2% | 1939 | $924 | 13.3% | 94.5% | 2.5% |
| Tama | 2.71 | 40.2 | 17.5% | 27.5% | 13.6% | 1964 | $865 | 12.9% | 85.7% | 8.1% |
| Luzerne | 2.45 | 49.0 | 1.4% | 26.6% | 1.3% | 1957 | $789 | 39.9% | 98.2% | 0.7% |
| Koszta | 2.07 | 56.6 | 10.6% | 6.6% | 2.5% | 1977 | $720 | 10.8% | 93.9% | 8.2% |
| Toledo | 2.41 | 40.5 | 19.9% | 36.3% | 11.9% | 1964 | $943 | 22.9% | 94.0% | 5.7% |
| Brooklyn | 2.41 | 39.3 | 8.3% | 23.1% | 13.5% | 1967 | $881 | 16.7% | 90.4% | 6.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rockport, WA · Joyce, LA · Rainsburg, PA · Ramsey, TX · Redford, MO · Rhodes, MS · Rinard, IL · Ringwood, NC · River Junction, FL · Robertsville, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Chelsea. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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