Chelsea vs Medford
Chelsea, Wisconsin versus Medford, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Chelsea edges out Medford on overall objective livability (42 vs 37 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Chelsea | Medford |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $40k | $54k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $46k |
| Home Value | $98k | $147k |
| Monthly Rent | $863 | $791 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $19 | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.60% | 1.82% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.36% | 14.40% |
| Unemployment | 7.1% | 4.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 14°F | 14°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 69°F | 69°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2 in | 34.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.0 in | 57.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 211 days | 211 days |
| Summer Humidity | 59°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 79 days | 80 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 69.2 | 65.5 |
| Air Quality | 42 AQI | 48 AQI |
| School Quality | 29.7 | 29.7 |
| Violent Crime | 539/100k | 1117/100k |
| Property Crime | 850/100k | 1815/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 80 | 4,317 |
| Median Age | 49.8 | 42.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.05 | 0.12 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 1.04 |
| Political Leaning | R+48 | R+48 |
| White (%) | 97.5% | 92.5% |
| Black (%) | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 0.0% | 2.2% |
| Asian (%) | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.5% | 4.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Walkability | 5.4/20 | 6.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 145 mi | 142 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 80.8% | 82.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 250.00 | 64.86 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Moderate |
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 Medford more affordable?
- Medford has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Chelsea's $46k and Medford's $46k. Median rent is $863 in Chelsea versus $791 in Medford.
- Is Chelsea or Medford safer?
- Chelsea has the lower violent crime rate. Chelsea reports 539/100k and Medford reports 1117/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Chelsea or Medford?
- The median home value is $98k in Chelsea and $147k in Medford, so homes are more affordable in Chelsea.