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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Chelsea, VT Housing Affordability Index

Chelsea, Vermont has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 80.2 (Moderately Less Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 102nd most affordable of 133 scored Vermont cities, compared with 89.8 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $232,600 home with 20% down, the Vermont average 30-year fixed rate of 7.28% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,273, or 35% of the city’s $43,750 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Chelsea is updated every night from live Vermont mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Chelsea MBR-HAI 80.2 Moderately Less Affordable
Rank in Vermont 102 of 133 1 = most affordable
Vermont 89.8 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.28% Vermont lenders
Median home value $232,600 U.S. Census Bureau

Chelsea is 9.5 points below the Vermont score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Vermont index

View Chelsea Mortgage Rates

See What You Can Afford in Chelsea, Vermont

Use this Chelsea, Vermont home affordability calculator to see how much house you can afford at today’s Vermont average 30-year mortgage rate of 7.28%. A household earning the Chelsea median income of $43,750, with no other debts and $47,000 down, can afford a home of about $157,323, compared with a median home value of $232,600. Buying the median priced home with 20% down takes a household income of about $71,400 once property tax and insurance are counted.

Chelsea median (Census)
Car, student loan, card minimums
Under 20% adds PMI
Vermont average, 30-year fixed
Chelsea median bill (Census)
Estimate; use your quote
You can afford a home up to
$157,323
Below the Chelsea median home value of $232,600
Loan amount$110,323
Principal & interest$755/mo
Property tax$201/mo
Home insurance$66/mo
PMI$0/mo
Total monthly payment$1,021/mo
Compare Chelsea Mortgage Rates

How much house can you afford in Chelsea?

Most lenders use two limits. Your housing payment, including principal, interest, property tax, homeowners insurance and any PMI, should stay under about 28% of your gross monthly income, and all of your monthly debt payments together should stay under about 36%. The calculator takes whichever limit is lower, then works backward from that payment to the most expensive home it covers at the current rate.

In Chelsea, property taxes run about 1.53% of a home’s value each year, based on the Census median tax bill, which counts against the same monthly budget as the mortgage. Each quarter point move in mortgage rates changes the price you can afford by roughly $2,162 for a median income household. A larger down payment, paying down other debts, or a lower rate from a local lender all raise your budget.

What It Takes to Buy in Chelsea

$1,273/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.28%
$54,600
Income Needed
To keep principal and interest at 28% of income
$43,750
Median Household Income
Vermont: $81,203
5.3x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Vermont: 3.9x
$915/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$3,568/yr
Median Property Tax
1.53% of median value
16.0%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
65.0%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Chelsea, Vermont. The rate is the Vermont average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Chelsea Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Chelsea, Vermont score: 80.2 (Moderately Less Affordable), ranked 102 of 133 Vermont cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/vermont/chelsea”