LUNA (tugboat) · Photo: Nkwoodward · CC BY 4.0Chelsea spent more per resident in 2022 than 91% of similar cities
Chelsea’s city government spent $267 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $6,910 per resident. Water and other utilities ($7.9 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Chelsea is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$5,407 per resident in 2022: more than 91% of them
Chelsea’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,407 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 22 Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,168, and the middle half spent $3,816–$4,522. Chelsea spent more than 91% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($12.5 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Chelsea itself left out).
About $6,910 per resident a year, or $18.93 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 65% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Chelsea runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 26% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Chelsea reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $5,407 · 2023: $5,783 · 2024: $6,910.
full-time in March 2025, up from 1,349 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,321 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.67% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Chelsea’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Chelsea’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Chelsea →
Who’s in charge in Chelsea
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Chelsea’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on chelseama.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 27 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (38,637).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Chelsea School District
Chelsea’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Chelsea, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $24,062 per pupil, $12,673 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Chelsea voted in 2024
Official results for Chelsea’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat66.7%5,787 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican29.9%2,594 votesOthers: 3.4% (292 votes).
Most votes in Chelsea: Kamala D Harris
Suffolk County: Harris 74.3%, Trump 22.2% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Chelsea’s 19,185 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Chelsea: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Suffolk County: Warren 75.4%, Deaton 24.2% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Ayanna S Pressley
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Chelsea, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 66.7% | 29.9% | 3.4% | 8,673 |
| Suffolk County | 74.3% | 22.2% | 3.5% | 299,193 |
| Massachusetts | 61.2% | 36.0% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Chelsea.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: chelseama.gov ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Chelsea compares with the towns next door
Chelsea spent $5,407 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $4,220 to $6,049. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Chelsea’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Chelsea’s government
How much does Chelsea spend per resident?
About $6,910 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $5,407 was more than 91% of 22 Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Chelsea?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,321 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.67% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see chelseama.gov.
Who runs Chelsea’s government?
See chelseama.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Chelsea yet.
How did Chelsea vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 66.7%, Donald J Trump 29.9% (8,673 votes, official results). Suffolk County: Harris 74.3%, Trump 22.2%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Chelsea?
1,429 full-time and 294 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $9.1M (about $109.4M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Chelsea in the state legislature?
State Senate District Middlesex and Suffolk (Sal DiDomenico) and State House District 11th Suffolk (Judith García). The House district also covers parts of 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Chelsea’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →