Chelsea, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Chelsea, Iowa had a total population of 404, the 524th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $40,313, which is 46% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 25.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 46% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (25.3%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 6.6% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x.
Chelsea Quick Facts
How Chelsea Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 342 | 404 | +18.1% |
| Median household income | $32,188 | $40,313 | +25.2% |
| Median home value | $43,100 | $43,500 | +0.9% |
How Chelsea Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Chelsea Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Tama County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tama | 3,051 | $68,661 | 24.0% | $106,800 |
| Toledo | 1,966 | $53,333 | 22.2% | $118,400 |
| Dysart | 1,519 | $67,695 | 12.3% | $158,300 |
| Traer | 1,519 | $76,406 | 11.2% | $151,900 |
| Gladbrook | 992 | $70,125 | 14.9% | $125,200 |
| Garwin | 571 | $55,714 | 7.7% | $87,600 |
| Clutier | 426 | $65,156 | 34.3% | $61,800 |
| Montour | 206 | $81,346 | 6.8% | $94,200 |
| Elberon | 143 | $57,188 | 23.1% | $110,000 |
| Lincoln | 113 | $65,000 | 8.8% | $97,800 |
Cities Similar to Chelsea
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bussey | 414 | $43,125 | $79,000 | 14.5% | 15.0% |
| Arlington | 427 | $38,958 | $112,000 | 12.2% | 15.0% |
| Otho | 380 | $43,482 | $89,900 | 8.5% | 15.5% |
| Allerton | 395 | $46,989 | $67,900 | 14.3% | 12.9% |
| Clearfield | 396 | $48,250 | $72,800 | 9.4% | 20.8% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 404, Chelsea's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Chelsea is a small community located in Iowa, within Tama County. The total population is 404. It ranks as the 524th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Chelsea is 31.6 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 42.3% of the population under 18, Chelsea has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Chelsea is $40,313. This is 46% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.3%. This is 128% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $43,500. Housing costs are 79% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Chelsea is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 96.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Chelsea is Hispanic or Latino, making up 48.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 45.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (48.0% vs 7.3%).
Education
6.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 79% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 54.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Chelsea, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Chelsea, Iowa?
Chelsea, Iowa has a population of 404 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Chelsea, IA?
The median household income in Chelsea is $40,313, which is 50% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Chelsea, IA?
The poverty rate in Chelsea is 25.3%. This means approximately 102 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Chelsea, Iowa?
Chelsea's population is 45.5% White, 0.0% Black, 48.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Chelsea, IA?
The median home value in Chelsea is $43,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.1x.
How educated is Chelsea, Iowa?
6.6% of adults (25+) in Chelsea hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.