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Chelsea vs Colby

Chelsea, Wisconsin versus Colby, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Chelsea

Mixed · objective livability42/100

Colby

Mixed · objective livability44/100

Chelsea and Colby score about the same overall (42 vs 44 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorChelseaColby
Affordability
Median Household Income$40k$51k
Cost of Living$46k$46k
Home Value$98k$144k
Monthly Rent$863$784
Monthly Owner Costs$19$453
Property Tax Rate1.60%1.84%
Income Tax7.60%7.60%
Sales Tax5.70%5.70%
Estimated total tax burden13.36%14.66%
Unemployment7.1%3.9%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)14°F15°F
Summer Temp (Jul)69°F70°F
Annual Precipitation34.2 in34.2 in
Annual Snowfall57.0 in51.0 in
Sunny Days211 days211 days
Summer Humidity59°F60°F
Comfortable Days79 days83 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk69.282.7
Air Quality42 AQI48 AQI
School Quality29.760.1
Violent Crime539/100k539/100k
Property Crime850/100k850/100k
Community
Population802,132
Median Age49.838.2
Racial Diversity0.050.30
Male/Female Ratio0.951.06
Political LeaningR+48R+48
White (%)97.5%71.9%
Black (%)0.0%0.1%
Hispanic (%)0.0%24.7%
Asian (%)0.0%0.3%
Other / Multiracial (%)2.5%3.0%
Getting Around
Commute Time20 min
Walkability5.4/205.2/20
Airport Distance145 mi142 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access80.8%85.8%
Amenities Nearby250.0060.98
Park & Nature AccessLimitedModerate

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chelsea or Colby more affordable?
Colby has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Chelsea's $46k and Colby's $46k. Median rent is $863 in Chelsea versus $784 in Colby.
Is Chelsea or Colby safer?
Colby has the lower violent crime rate. Chelsea reports 539/100k and Colby reports 539/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Chelsea or Colby?
The median home value is $98k in Chelsea and $144k in Colby, so homes are more affordable in Chelsea.
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