CITY REPORT MA

Chelsea, MA Home Safety: Home Safety 100/100

1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Chelsea: A.

Checked records flag no major concern; missing data is unknown.

Across Chelsea, MA, the overall grade falls in the upper range - a summary score, not a measurement taken at any single tap.

How Chelsea Compares

Chelsea100/100
Massachusetts avg70/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
1
Water Systems
0
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
A · 100
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
County Radon Potential (Low)
$477K
Median Home Value

Chelsea Water: The Quick Version

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0024 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 75% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 10.05.

Water Systems Serving Chelsea

Just one provider appears in the list below for Chelsea, MA, among 1 on the federal list. A listing shows which system is tied to the area, not which one serves a particular street; the water bill or the utility itself confirms that for a given address.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Chelsea, Massachusetts, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 39,444 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Chelsea: A (100/100)

Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:

Factor What It Measures
Water Quality EPA violations and compliance history
PFAS MCL Screen UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs
Radon Risk EPA radon zone classification
Annual AQI EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days

Water Sources

Chelsea water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0024 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 3.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Areas with No Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score System Population
02150 A Chelsea Water Department (mwra) 40,787

All ZIP Codes in Chelsea

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

CDC Health Data for Chelsea

11.4%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
9.3%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
17.3%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 11.4% ↑
Diabetes 9.3% ↓
Mental Health 17.3% ↑

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

How Old Is Chelsea's Housing Stock?

1900
Median Build Year
75%
Built Before 1986
65%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Lead
Likely Pipe Material

With 75% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

Lead can reach tap water from service lines, solder and brass fittings inside a building, which is why housing age draws attention in Chelsea, where the median build year is 1900.

1900
Median Year Built
75%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
65%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (65%) 1970–1986 (10%) Post-1986 (25%)

Over half of homes in Chelsea were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Protecting Children from Lead in Chelsea

75%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0024
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Chelsea

39
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$5,133
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
0%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Chelsea contains 39 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $5,133. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.

How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure.

Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.

Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Chelsea, MA?
Chelsea has an average Home Safety Score of 100/100 (Grade A) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. The available EPA record reports no violations for ZIP codes with reported counts. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
Does Chelsea water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Chelsea is 0.0024 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Chelsea compare to Massachusetts average?
Chelsea has an average Home Safety Score of 100/100, which is at or above the Massachusetts state average of 70/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Chelsea?
Our records map 1 water system to 1 ZIP code in Chelsea. The related population figure in our data is approximately 39,444 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
Home → Cities → Massachusetts → Chelsea, MA

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Chelsea, MA Home Safety: Home Safety 100/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/chelsea/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ma-chelsea,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Chelsea, MA Home Safety: Home Safety 100/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/chelsea/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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