Chelsea, MA 02150
Chelsea Real Estate
Across the Mystic from Charlestown, with Silver Line stops, Admiral's Hill and Bellingham Square
Updated
- ZIP codes
- 02150
- Getting around
- Silver Line SL3 at Chelsea, Bellingham Square, Box District and Eastern Avenue to Airport station and South Station; commuter rail at Chelsea (Newburyport/Rockport Line); bus 111 over the Tobin Bridge to Haymarket
- Typical homes
- Triple-deckers and two-families, brick rowhouses, loft conversions in former industrial buildings, and condos on Admiral's Hill
Chelsea is a compact city wedged between the Mystic River and Chelsea Creek beneath the Tobin Bridge, directly across the water from Charlestown and East Boston. Its look owes a great deal to April 12, 1908, when the Great Chelsea Fire burned hundreds of acres. Much of the downtown, including the Bellingham Square Historic District, was rebuilt in brick and stone in the years after, while the hilltop around the old Naval Hospital on Admiral's Hill was spared.
Broadway is the main commercial street, running from Chelsea Square up through Bellingham Square, with City Hall and storefronts lining the way. The Silver Line's SL3 cuts across the city on its own busway, linking Chelsea station and the Box District to Airport station and the Seaport. Mary O'Malley Park, below Admiral's Hill on the Mystic, offers a waterfront path with views of the Tobin Bridge and the Boston skyline.
Transit is one of the main things buyers here ask about, so it helps to map the walk from a given street to the nearest SL3 stop or the commuter rail. Elevation is the other early question, since streets on Admiral's Hill and Powder Horn Hill sit well above the low ground near Chelsea Creek.
Living in Chelsea
What makes Chelsea special
Silver Line SL3
Four Chelsea stops (Chelsea, Bellingham Square, Box District and Eastern Avenue) link the city to Airport station on the Blue Line, the Seaport and South Station.
Mary O'Malley Park
A state park on the Mystic River shore below Admiral's Hill, with lawns, paths and wide views of the Tobin Bridge and downtown Boston.
Bellingham Square
A National Register historic district of civic and commercial buildings, nearly all rebuilt after the 1908 fire, at the heart of Broadway.
Admiral's Hill
A hill between the Mystic and the Island End River, home to the Naval Hospital Historic District and residential condominium communities.
Box District
Former industrial blocks near Gerrish Avenue where older factory buildings have been converted into lofts alongside newer residential buildings.
The Market
Chelsea homes & real estate
Chelsea's homes are mostly multi-family. Triple-deckers and two-families, many from the early twentieth century, fill the streets around Bellingham Square, Prattville and Cary Square, with brick rowhouses and rebuilt post-fire blocks closer to downtown. The Box District mixes converted factory lofts with newer mid-rise apartment and condo buildings. On Admiral's Hill, condominiums and townhouses sit on the grounds around the former Naval Hospital, while single-family houses are relatively few across the city.
Many Chelsea condos are units in converted triple-deckers or two-families, so it's worth reading the master deed, budget and insurance policy for small associations. Buyers of multi-families should review leases, rent rolls and building code compliance carefully. Low-lying land near Chelsea Creek and the Mystic can fall within flood zones, and parking rules vary by street. If you'd like a clear picture of what Chelsea homes are selling for right now, we can walk you through the latest numbers.
Helpful guides: First-time buyer guideHow offers work in MassachusettsMortgage options by property typeSelling a house in Massachusetts
Getting around: Blue Line guide
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What ZIP codes cover Chelsea?
Chelsea is covered by the 02150 ZIP code.
How do you get to downtown Boston from Chelsea?
The Silver Line SL3 runs from Chelsea through East Boston and Airport station to the Seaport and South Station. Newburyport/Rockport Line commuter rail trains stop at Chelsea station on the way to North Station, and the 111 bus crosses the Tobin Bridge to Haymarket.
What types of homes are for sale in Chelsea?
Chelsea listings are mostly triple-deckers, two-families and condos in converted multi-families, along with loft condos in the Box District and condominiums and townhouses on Admiral's Hill.
What is Chelsea known for?
Chelsea is known for the Great Chelsea Fire of 1908, the Tobin Bridge overhead, the Bellingham Square Historic District, Admiral's Hill and Mary O'Malley Park, and its Silver Line connection to the airport and Seaport.
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