Chelsea, Kennebec County, Maine Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Chelsea, Maine, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Chelsea, Maine. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Chelsea, Maine. The estimated population of Chelsea, Maine is 2,761 people, with a median age of 46.3.

We can look at the total population in Chelsea over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
2,761
+1.54%
+2.15%
2020
2,719
-0.29% -
2019
2,727
+0.63%
-
2018
2,710
+0.26%
-
2017
2,703
- -

Population of Chelsea, Maine by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
95.1%
96.9%
-1.86%
Black/African American
0.8%
0.8%
0.00%
Native
1.4%
1.6%
-12.50%
Hispanic
0.4%
0%
0.00%
Asian
0.2%
0.1%
+100.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
2%
0.6%
+233.33%
Other
0%
0%
0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Chelsea, Maine by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 46.3 -1.49% 47.3 +0.64% 45.1 -4.04%
2020 47 -2.69% 47 -3.29% 47 -2.08%
2019 48.3 -0.82% 48.6 -0.61% 48 -0.83%
2018 48.7 +1.46% 48.9 +1.03% 48.4 +3.42%
2017 48 - 48.4 - 46.8 -

The median age of Chelsea, Maine gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 184 1.33% 103 +36.19% 184 138
10 to 19 164 +20.88% 146 -0.84% 175 128
20 to 29 142 -10.6% 168 -37.3% 127 100
30 to 39 102 +22.68% 68 +146.44% 117 189
40 to 49 172 -1.7% 235 -8.09% 167 205
50 to 59 283 -48% 236 +7.15% 169 253
60 to 69 223 0.73% 181 +17.4% 221 185
70+ 157 +53.33% 139 +14.19% 252 151

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Chelsea, Maine is $72,732.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Chelsea.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $74,237.00
  • 45 to 64
    $84,844.00
  • 65 and over
    $34,141.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Chelsea, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Chelsea, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Chelsea, Maine is currently $80,479.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

2.72% of households in Chelsea are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Chelsea against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    19.05%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    20.12%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.01%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.80%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    19.14%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    8.16%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.72%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Chelsea is $31,549.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Chelsea by the total population of Chelsea.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Chelsea, Maine, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Chelsea to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    7.52%
  • Bachelor's degree
    23.50%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    13.21%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    53.32%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.45%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Chelsea that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Chelsea over the age of 16 is 2,216.

Of those people, a total of 58.60% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Chelsea is 56.40%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 80 23.80% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 98 81.60% 25.00%
25 to 29 years 129 67.40% 3.40%
30 to 34 years 185 95.70% 2.40%
35 to 44 years 306 73.20% 1.30%
45 to 54 years 352 79.80% 0.00%
55 to 59 years 257 77.80% 2.50%
60 to 64 years 165 82.40% 4.40%
65 to 74 years 354 24.90% 0.00%
75 years and over 290 2.40% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Chelsea. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 2,114 59.20% 3.00%
Black or African American 13 23.10% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 31 71.00% 0.00%
Asian 5 0.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 4 0.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 49 44.90% 23.10%
Hispanic or Latino 12 66.70% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 2,109 59.10% 3.00%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Chelsea as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Chelsea is 1,249, with median earnings of $42,225.00.

Women in Chelsea, Maine earning approximately 86.30% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 1,249 $42,225.00
Male 601 $47,669.00
Female 648 $41,122.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 143 $72,917.00
Business and Financial 71 $49,063.00
Computer and Mathematical 11 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 29 $97,083.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 34 $48,929.00
Legal 8 $72,500.00
Educational and Library 38 $36,250.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 16 $70,833.00
Healthcare Practitioners 106 $42,222.00
Healthcare Support 27 $41,458.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 7 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 66 $25,208.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 66 $35,313.00
Personal Care and Service 25 $20,547.00
Sales 109 $42,250.00
Office and Administrative Support 159 $37,863.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 26 $4,125.00
Construction and Extraction 93 $28,542.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 59 $38,750.00
Production 44 $59,091.00
Transportation and Material Moving 83 $58,359.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 35 $70,781.00 108 $73,158.00
Business and Financial 6 $0.00 65 $49,063.00
Computer and Mathematical 6 $0.00 5 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 29 $97,083.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 21 $0.00 13 $0.00
Legal 2 $0.00 6 $0.00
Educational and Library 7 $0.00 31 $37,344.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 16 $70,833.00 0 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 13 $13,250.00 93 $52,917.00
Healthcare Support 6 $0.00 21 $50,250.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 7 $0.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 32 $21,250.00 34 $25,375.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 36 $36,563.00 30 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 0 $0.00 25 $20,547.00
Sales 50 $48,750.00 59 $41,477.00
Office and Administrative Support 36 $34,545.00 123 $38,024.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 26 $4,125.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 93 $28,542.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 59 $38,750.00 0 $0.00
Production 39 $59,659.00 5 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 72 $58,750.00 11 $38,438.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 1,029 households in Chelsea, with an average household size of 2.49 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 730 families in Chelsea with an average family size of 2.8 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 540 36 154 299
Average Household Size 2.87 2.81 3.16 1.41
Total Families 540 36 154 0
Average Household Size 2.83 2.25 2.79 0

Poverty

Of the 730 families in Chelsea, 2.10% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Chelsea:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 1,037 housing units in Chelsea, Maine.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 1,029 99.23%
Vacant 8 0.77%

7.81% of the total 1,037 housing units in Chelsea are rental units. This is approximately 81 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 948 are occupied by the owner - or 91.42% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Chelsea is $1,063.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Chelsea that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    0
  • Less than $500
    22
  • $500 to $999
    15
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    34
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    10
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Chelsea is $137,000.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Chelsea that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    67
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    238
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    219
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    182
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    206
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    36
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    0
  • $1,000,000 or more
    0

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Chelsea. The chart below shows the number of properties in Chelsea that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    158
  • 1940 to 1949
    2
  • 1950 to 1959
    11
  • 1960 to 1969
    43
  • 1970 to 1979
    222
  • 1980 to 1989
    248
  • 1990 to 1999
    147
  • 2000 to 2009
    148
  • 2010 to 2013
    58
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Chelsea that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    32
  • 1 vehicle available
    330
  • 2 vehicles available
    432
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    235

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Chelsea get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Chelsea that commute to work in a particular way.

22.7 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Chelsea.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    22
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    150
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    110
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    233
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    277
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    53
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    124
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    48
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    65
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    109
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    12
  • 90 or more minutes
    8

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Chelsea, Maine in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.