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City · 5,426 residents · Washtenaw County, Michigan

Chelsea , Michigan

In Chelsea, a typical home is worth $312,700 and typical rent is $1,619 a month. Compared with all of Washtenaw County, typical household income is 19% lower and the typical home value is 16% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $312,700

    16% below the county

    35% above Michigan

    • Chelsea
    • Washtenaw
    • Michigan

  • Typical rent

    $1,619a month

    11% above the county

    43% above Michigan

    • Chelsea
    • Washtenaw
    • Michigan

  • Typical household income

    $72,098a year

    19% below the county

    About the same as Michigan

    • Chelsea
    • Washtenaw
    • Michigan

  • Households that own their home

    63%

    1 points above the county

    10 points below Michigan

    • Chelsea
    • Washtenaw
    • Michigan

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$413,331
3.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Chelsea is in Washtenaw County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Washtenaw County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Chelsea apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Jackson, the typical home value is $103,200: 67% less than in Chelsea ($312,700).

  2. Chelsea has the 4th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 168 cities in Michigan with more than 5,000 people (71%).

  3. Nearby, in Jackson, the typical rent is $898: 45% less than in Chelsea ($1,619).

  4. The typical household income in Chelsea is $72,098, 19% less than in Washtenaw County as a whole ($89,180).

  5. The typical home in Chelsea is worth $312,700, 16% less than in Washtenaw County as a whole ($374,100).

  6. Chelsea has the 13th highest typical rent of the 175 cities in Michigan with more than 5,000 people ($1,619).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Chelsea

What homes there are in Chelsea, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Chelsea, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Washtenaw County, 6.

Year built

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,893 a month

Washtenaw County: $2,150 a month

Without a mortgage

$703 a month

Washtenaw County: $903 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Washtenaw County: 64%

Owning costs less in Chelsea: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,893 a month; in Washtenaw County, $2,150. Without one, $703.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Chelsea rose 32%; in Washtenaw County, it rose 42%.

Rents in Chelsea rose faster than in Washtenaw County: 49% since 2015–2019, against 31%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureChelseaWashtenaw CountyMichiganUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.7%5.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.4%1.6%3.4%
People per household 1.902.332.422.53
Drive alone 66%59%74%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate4%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate7%2%3%
Work from home 26%23%14%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Chelsea has 1.90 people, fewer than in Washtenaw County (2.33).

Working from home is more common in Chelsea: 26%, against 23% in Washtenaw County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Chelsea?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Chelsea, worth $312,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 46% of the typical household income in Chelsea, which is $72,098 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $117,963 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Washtenaw County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Chelsea. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $10,945 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,753

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$307,036
Total interest
$441,752
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,281 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,682 a month

  • Tight

    $1,682 to $2,163 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,163 a month

    Your payment · 46%

Compared with the typical household income in Chelsea ($72,098 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,753
Principal & interest$2,080
Property tax$404
Home insurance$130
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$138

You need at least $10,945 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Chelsea and Washtenaw County

Chelsea is in Washtenaw County, Michigan. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Chelsea's own numbers

Typical home value
$312,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,619
Typical yearly household income
$72,098
Households that own their home
63%
Effective property tax rate
1.55%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Washtenaw County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,804
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+44%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.7%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Washtenaw County.

Everything about Washtenaw County

Buying

Buying a home in Chelsea

A typical home in Chelsea is worth $312,700: 16% below the county and 35% above Michigan. With the typical household income in Chelsea ($72,098 a year), a typical home costs 4.3 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Chelsea 4.3 years
  • Washtenaw 4.2 years
  • Michigan 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Washtenaw County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Washtenaw County rose 85% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Washtenaw County.

Period County Michigan U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.2% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +44% +52% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +85% +97% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Chelsea next to Washtenaw County, Michigan and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Chelsea $312,700
  • Washtenaw $374,100
  • Michigan $231,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Chelsea $1,619
  • Washtenaw $1,463
  • Michigan $1,129
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Chelsea $72,098
  • Washtenaw $89,180
  • Michigan $72,875
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Chelsea next to Washtenaw County and Michigan
Measure Chelsea Washtenaw County Michigan U.S.
Typical home value $312,700 $374,100 $231,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,619 $1,463 $1,129 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $72,098 $89,180 $72,875 $80,734
Households that own their home 63% 62% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,853 $5,678 $2,904 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.55% 1.52% 1.25% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 71% 56% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Washtenaw County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Chelsea

For a typical $312,700 home in Chelsea, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Chelsea's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,752a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $10,945
    Cash to close
    $20,326
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $138

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,695a month

    Down payment
    $15,635
    Cash to close
    $25,016
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $149

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,229a month

    Down payment
    $62,540
    Cash to close
    $71,921
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,518a month

    Down payment
    $46,905
    Cash to close
    $56,286
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Chelsea and for Washtenaw County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Chelsea

1.55%of the home’s value each year

$4,853 a year for the typical owner in Chelsea.

  • Chelsea 1.55%
  • Washtenaw 1.52%
  • Michigan 1.25%

What Michigan publishes Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) from school operating tax (Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Michigan

Flood risk in Washtenaw County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Washtenaw County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.7%
799
Of those, with NFIP insurance
25%
County Michigan U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.7% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 25% 18% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Chelsea

Typical rent in Chelsea is $1,619 a month: 11% above the county. In Chelsea, 71% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Washtenaw County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,804 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $34.69 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Washtenaw County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,458 $28.04 $58,320
1 bedroom $1,503 $28.90 $60,120
2 bedrooms $1,804 $34.69 $72,160
3 bedrooms $2,164 $41.62 $86,560
4 bedrooms $2,371 $45.60 $94,840

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Chelsea

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Chelsea is in ZIP code 48118.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,030: $226 more than the fair market rent for Washtenaw County ($1,804).

  • 48118 $2,030$2,440

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Chelsea when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Chelsea

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Chelsea. These are the largest.

  • The Pines 325 Wilkinson St, Chelsea 48118 98 homes, 40 low-income · 1 bd: 68 · 2 bd: 30 · In service since 2001
  • Village Apts (CHELSEA) 250 Wilkinson St, Chelsea 48118 33 homes, 32 low-income · 2 bd: 33 · In service since 2001
  • Sharon Ann Apartments 533 N Main St, Chelsea 48118 17 low-income homes · 1 bd: 11 · 2 bd: 6 · In service since 2018

See all 50 buildings in Washtenaw County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Chelsea

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Washtenaw County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Chelsea

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Chelsea or Washtenaw County. The ones below are statewide in Michigan: they work in Chelsea the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Michigan

  • MI 10K DPA Loan

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state agency loan of up to $10,000, with no interest and no monthly payments, for the down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses; it goes with MSHDA's MI Home Loan mortgage and is repaid in certain cases, such as when you pay off the first mortgage, sell or refinance the home, or no longer live in it. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state authority certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, for the life of the loan; you apply with an approved lender before you buy. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Chelsea

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Chelsea, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Michigan State University Extension Service-Washtenaw

    705 N Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor · 9 miles away

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    (734) 997-1678

  • Community Action Agency

    1214 Greenwood Ave, Jackson · 21 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (517) 784-4800

  • Community Action Agency - Adrian Branch

    400 W. South St., Adrian · 29 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Homelessness services
    • and 4 more
    (517) 263-7861

Every agency in Washtenaw County All counseling agencies in Michigan

Help in Spanish near Chelsea

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Chelsea

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Washtenaw County is named for Chelsea or Washtenaw County.

2 other authorities have an office in Washtenaw County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Washtenaw County

These cities are also in Washtenaw County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Washtenaw County Housing in Michigan

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Chelsea, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Washtenaw County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Chelsea.

All guides
A father smiles as he carries his baby on his shoulders outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Chelsea

Short answers with the numbers for Chelsea and all of Washtenaw County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Chelsea?

The typical home value in Chelsea is $312,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Washtenaw County it is $374,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Chelsea?

Typical rent in Chelsea is $1,619 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Washtenaw County is $1,804.

What is the FHA loan limit in Chelsea?

Chelsea uses the FHA limit for all of Washtenaw County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Chelsea?

The typical homeowner in Chelsea pays $4,853 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.55% of the home’s value; in Washtenaw County, the rate is 1.52%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Chelsea?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Washtenaw County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).