The Town FilesChelmsford, Massachusetts
Town in Middlesex County · population 36,392 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $593,700
- Household income
- $140,629
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 41.6
Chelmsford is a town of 36,392 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $593,700, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 84% of Massachusetts towns, more upscale than 78% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 73% of Massachusetts towns.
How Chelmsford ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chelmsford is worth $593,700, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $140,629, which is more affordable than 65% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,062 a month. 82.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chelmsford | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $593,700 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,062 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $140,629 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 82.1% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Chelmsford
| People | Chelmsford | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.8% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.5% | — |
| Work from home | 22.8% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in Chelmsford
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 15.8°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.0 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chelmsford since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 29, 1974 about 7.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 22, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 4, 2015.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Chelmsford itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Chelmsford
9 public schools with 5,188 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelmsford High | 9-12 | 1,413 | 14.1 |
| Col Moses Parker School | 5-6 | 797 | 12.9 |
| McCarthy Middle School | 7-8 | 782 | 12.2 |
| Byam School | K-4 | 530 | 13.6 |
| Charles D Harrington | K-4 | 477 | 13.3 |
| Center Elementary School | K-4 | 466 | 13.7 |
| South Row | K-4 | 465 | 13.7 |
| Community Education Center | PK-PK | 200 | 22.2 |
| Dr. Janice Adie Day School | PK-12 | 58 | 5.3 |
Towns near Chelmsford
- Westford, MA3.7 mi · 24,643 people · home $748,500
- Lowell, MA3.8 mi · 115,554 people · home $429,200
- Carlisle, MA4.2 mi · 5,237 people · home $1,103,900
- Tyngsborough, MA5.7 mi · 12,380 people · home $552,500
- Billerica, MA6.1 mi · 42,119 people · home $612,000
- Dracut, MA6.7 mi · 32,617 people · home $473,900
- Littleton Common, MA6.8 mi · 3,065 people · home $558,200
- Tewksbury, MA7.3 mi · 31,342 people · home $573,600
Chelmsford questions
Is Chelmsford, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chelmsford scores better for retirees than 35% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 35%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Chelmsford?
The median owner-occupied home in Chelmsford is valued at $593,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $140,629, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $2,062 a month.
What is the weather like in Chelmsford?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 15.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 59.0 inches of snow.
Does Chelmsford get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chelmsford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 29, 1974. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)