The Town FilesChelsea, Wisconsin
Town in Taylor County · population 710 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $198,200
- Household income
- $56,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 54.2
Chelsea is a town of 710 people in Taylor County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $198,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 88% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 78% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 77% of Wisconsin towns.
How Chelsea ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chelsea is worth $198,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $56,875, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 90.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chelsea | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $951 |
| Median household income | $56,875 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.0% | — |
Who lives in Chelsea
| People | Chelsea | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 12.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Chelsea
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 2.3°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chelsea since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 26, 1994 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 28, 2023.
Severe weather in Taylor County since 1996
Taylor County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Taylor County
Taylor County had 7,832 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,788 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Chelsea itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Towns near Chelsea
- Medford, WI6.2 mi · 2,482 people · home $264,900
- Greenwood, WI7.3 mi · 621 people · home $188,200
- Westboro, WI7.7 mi · 693 people · home $186,100
- Rib Lake, WI8.3 mi · 935 people · home $99,400
- Medford, WI8.5 mi · 4,349 people · home $186,600
- Browning, WI9.6 mi · 910 people · home $245,200
- Hammel, WI10.6 mi · 703 people · home $203,700
- Rib Lake, WI11.6 mi · 763 people · home $225,500
Chelsea questions
Is Chelsea, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chelsea scores better for retirees than 31% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 88%. 32.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.2).
How much does a house cost in Chelsea?
The median owner-occupied home in Chelsea is valued at $198,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,875, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in Chelsea?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 2.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 57.0 inches of snow.
Does Chelsea get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chelsea since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 26, 1994. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)