What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelsea has the most people working from home (6%).

Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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	Somerville
People
Population	2,823Highest	837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.2±3.6Highest 6% below ME	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME
	Chelsea and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Somerville and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%	13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Chelsea and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,471±$10kHighest 14% above ME	$71,250±$15kLowest 5% below ME
	Chelsea and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$182,300±$37kLowest 39% below ME	$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME
	Somerville and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,373±$90Lowest 21% above ME	$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME
	Somerville and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,313Lowest 24% below ME	$2,505Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	15%±19.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 48% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	6%±3Highest ME: 15.9%	3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Chelsea and Somerville 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	#93 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 12	RSU 12
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.