Signals
Chelsea
Meridianville
Opportunity
72 · Top 19%
vs77 · Top 11%
Climate
74 · Top 33%
vs68 · Bottom 42%
Physical resilience
48 · Bottom 40%
vs51 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 11%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
91 · Bottom 48%
vs92 · Top 50%
Economic stability
81 · Top 5%
vs72 · Top 23%
Measured values
| Metric | Chelsea | Meridianville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,260 | 11,150 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $115,337 | $97,434 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,712 | $44,739 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 498/sq mi | 717/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $360,000 | $291,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,414 | $1,348 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 90.0% | 92.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.5% | 43.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.7% | 4.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 91°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 56.2" | 54.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 34.8 min | 27.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.6 | 39.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 1 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.05 | 17.17 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 27.4% | 39.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Chelsea
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, inland flooding, earthquake.
Meridianville
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, inland flooding, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Chelsea
76
Your Score
72
Area Score
Meridianville
77
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Chelsea, AL · Meridianville, AL · How this is calculated: methodology