Rents are 8% below what Chelsea's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,632 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Chelsea usually run 2.1% below trend in January and 1.6% above it in August, about $97 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Chelsea is 0% below its high of $2,632 in July 2026, at $2,632 as of September 2026.
Rent in Chelsea changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Chelsea rose 33.3% while median household income rose 27.1% ($56,802 to $72,179). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Chelsea is 29.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($72,179) is $1,804 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($2,000).
Lynn, 6 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,342/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Chelsea. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Chelsea, MA is majority renter-occupied, 22.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Chelsea, MA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Chelsea, MA has increased 41.0% since 2021, going from about $1,867 per month to roughly $2,632 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in Chelsea, MA now reports about $72,179, up from $64,782 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 29.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 74% of households rent today, against 71.8% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Chelsea, MA reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Chelsea
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Chelsea on your salary?
At $2,632/mo, how Chelsea rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Chelsea rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Chelsea. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Chelsea
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Chelsea is $2,632/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,550/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,140/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,080/mo.
At 44% of local median household income ($72,179/yr), Chelsea ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Chelsea?
Is rent going up or down in Chelsea?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Chelsea?
Has rent outpaced income in Chelsea?
How does Chelsea rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $2,632/mo, rent takes ~44% of Chelsea's median household income ($72,179/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Chelsea.
No discussions yet.