Compare towns
Chelsea vs Pelham vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.9%).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
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.
| Measure | Chelsea | Pelham | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,908 |
14,449Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3Lowest 12% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Pelham and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pelham and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,179±$8k 11% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,500±$24k 48% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,321Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±5.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941Lowest 39 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #280 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelsea | Pelham School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | Pelham High School | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.