Chelsea, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 75, 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 Wisconsin, within Taylor County. The total population is 75. It ranks as the 784th most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chelsea is 37.3 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chelsea is $40,625. This is 48% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 52.0%. This is 393% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. 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 8.0%. This is 146% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $112,500. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $266,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Chelsea is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Chelsea was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

2.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 93% lower than the state rate of 33.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Chelsea, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.