What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.9%).

Fall River has the most homeowners (35.3%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chelsea	Fall River
People
Population	39,908Lowest	94,082Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA	39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Chelsea and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,179±$8kHighest 31% below MA	$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$493,500±$24kHighest 12% below MA	$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA	$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,321Lowest 45% below MA	$3,953Highest 34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8%	52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Chelsea and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.7%Highest MA: 10%	19.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	26%Lowest MA: 62.5%	35.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	10.4%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Chelsea and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#280 of 282 in MA	#262 of 282 in MA
School district	Chelsea	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Chelsea High	B M C Durfee High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.