Chelsea, MA vs Lawrence, MA

Lawrence is moderately more affordable than Chelsea, with a 13.2% lower cost of living index. Chelsea scores 134 compared to 118 for Lawrence, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Chelsea can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chelsea is $1,859/month compared to $1,569/month in Lawrence — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lawrence is more affordable at $393,500 median vs $476,500.

Median household income in Chelsea is $72,220 compared to $57,903 in Lawrence (+24.7%). While Chelsea is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chelsea spend roughly 30.9% of their income on rent, less than the 32.5% in Lawrence. The Chelsea ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 50.1°F). Chelsea receives more rainfall at 43.6" per year compared to 40.9" in Lawrence.