05038 ZIP Code — Chelsea, VT

Orange County, Vermont

ZIP code 05038 is located in Chelsea, Vermont, within Orange County. It covers approximately 43.70 square miles and serves a population of 1,435 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 802.

About ZIP code 05038

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the pre-1940, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $206,700. Owner-occupancy is high at 84%, well above the national average.

Median household income is $61,875. 42% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 26 minutes is near the national average. Remote work is prevalent — 22% of workers work from home.

Educational attainment is near the national average, with 33% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher.

Overall, ZIP code 05038 reflects a community defined by high homeownership, a high rate of remote workers, and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

1,435

population

43.70

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

05038 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 05038

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 05038. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Chelsea	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

05041 East Randolph (5.1 mi) 05675 Washington (5.5 mi) 05077 Tunbridge (6.3 mi) 05036 Brookfield (6.4 mi) 05061 Randolph Center (6.9 mi) 05079 Vershire (7 mi) 05679 Williamstown (8.6 mi) 05039 Corinth (8.6 mi) 05072 Strafford (9.1 mi) 05654 Graniteville (10.5 mi) 05649 East Barre (11 mi) 05086 West Topsham (11.8 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	1,435
Population density	33 / sq mi
State FIPS	50
County FIPS	017

Geography
Land area	43.70 sq mi
Water area	0.05 sq mi
Latitude	43.9955
Longitude	-72.4600
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	802

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	47.2%	38.1%	39.3%
$50k – $100k	41.2%	36.4%	32.2%
$100k – $200k	9.5%	22.0%	22.5%
Over $200k	2.1%	3.6%	6.0%

Demographics & statistics

1,435

Population

People per sq mi

42.1

Median age

$61,875

Median household income

$33,017

Per capita income

$206,700

Median home value

$918

Median monthly rent

83.5%

Home ownership

12.8%

Poverty rate

3.2%

Unemployment

706

Housing units

33.3%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

10–14

15–19

20–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–59

60–64

65–74

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	349	24.3%
18 and over	1,086	75.7%
65 and over	306	21.3%
Median age	42.1 years

Race & ethnicity

White 96%

Two or more races 2.8%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%

Black or African American 0.4%

Asian 0.1%

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%

Group	Count	%
White	1,378	96%
Two or more races	40	2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native	9	0.6%
Black or African American	6	0.4%
Asian	1	0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	1	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	47.2%	38.1%	39.3%
$50k – $100k	41.2%	36.4%	32.2%
$100k – $200k	9.5%	22.0%	22.5%
Over $200k	2.1%	3.6%	6.0%

Under $10k 4.8%

$10k–$15k 2.7%

$15k–$25k 6.8%

$25k–$35k 13.4%

$35k–$50k 17.9%

$50k–$75k 13.4%

$75k–$100k 8.8%

$100k–$150k 22.1%

$150k–$200k 3.6%

$200k+ 6.5%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	4.8%
$10k–$15k	2.7%
$15k–$25k	6.8%
$25k–$35k	13.4%
$35k–$50k	17.9%
$50k–$75k	13.4%
$75k–$100k	8.8%
$100k–$150k	22.1%
$150k–$200k	3.6%
$200k+	6.5%
Median income	$61,875

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 6.3%

$50k–$100k 14.3%

$100k–$150k 18.1%

$150k–$200k 9.2%

$200k–$300k 23.2%

$300k–$500k 21.8%

$500k–$1M 3.7%

$1M+ 3.5%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$206,700
Median rent / month	$918
Owner occupied	83.5%
Renter occupied	16.5%
Vacant	26.8%
Single-family detached	85.7%
Large apartment buildings	1.2%
Mobile homes	6.4%
Median rooms	5.4
Avg household size (owned)	2.35

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	1.5%
2000–2009	9.8%
1990–1999	7.5%
1980–1989	10.3%
1970–1979	13.4%
1960–1969	10.2%
1950–1959	3.6%
1940–1949	3.2%
1939 or earlier	40.3%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	1.2%
1 bedroom	18.8%
2 bedrooms	18.3%
3 bedrooms	38.5%
4 bedrooms	19.6%
5+ bedrooms	3.6%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	3.1%
1 vehicle	37.8%
2 vehicles	37.1%
3 or more	22.1%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	2.0%
Electricity	1.7%
Propane / LP gas	23.3%
Fuel oil	36.9%
Wood	34.7%
No fuel used	0.7%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	303	51.5%
Cohabiting couple	59	10.0%
Male householder, no spouse	113	19.2%
Female householder, no spouse	113	19.2%
Households with children under 18	174	29.6%
Households with seniors (65+)	196	33.3%
Average household size	2.40

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	24.8%	17.5%
Married	55.2%	56.4%
Separated	0.0%	1.1%
Widowed	4.7%	6.1%
Divorced	15.3%	18.9%

Education

Less than 9th grade 1.4%

Some HS, no diploma 1.7%

HS graduate 35.0%

Some college, no degree 19.4%

Associate's degree 9.3%

Bachelor's degree 23.7%

Graduate / professional 9.6%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	97.0%
Bachelor's or higher	33.3%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	4	1.1%
Kindergarten	13	3.6%
Elementary school	198	54.8%
High school	112	31.0%
College / grad school	34	9.4%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 25.0%

Manufacturing 13.1%

Arts, food & hospitality 12.1%

Agriculture & mining 7.9%

Construction 7.2%

Professional & management 6.9%

Other services 6.4%

Retail trade 5.9%

Public administration 5.9%

Wholesale trade 2.8%

Finance & real estate 2.8%

Transportation & utilities 2.6%

Information 1.5%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	43.0%
Service	23.6%
Sales & office	16.5%
Natural resources & construction	7.7%
Production & transportation	9.2%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	62.4%
Government	20.3%
Self-employed	17.3%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	64.0%
Carpool	11.2%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	0.8%
Work from home	21.7%
Other means	2.2%
Avg commute (minutes)	26.0

Poverty

All people 12.8%

Under 18 years 21.1%

18 and over 10.2%

Married-couple families 6.6%

Female-led households 9.3%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	41.8%
Retirement income	26.4%
Supplemental Security	4.4%
Cash public assistance	7.5%
Food stamps / SNAP	15.6%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	28.5%
High blood pressure	30.6%
High cholesterol	32.3%
Diabetes	8.9%
Heart disease	7.1%
Stroke	3.1%
Asthma	9.6%
Arthritis	27.9%
Kidney disease	2.9%
Pulmonary disease	6.9%
Cancer	7.9%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	14.8%
Binge drinking	18.1%
No physical activity	18.7%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	30.4%
Depression	23.5%
Fair or poor health	12.1%
Poor mental health	13.4%
Poor physical health	10.1%
No health insurance	9.0%
Visited doctor (checkup)	73.1%
Visited dentist	66.4%
Cholesterol screening	90.5%
Teeth loss	14.1%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	76	7.0%

Disability	%
Any disability	18.8%
Under 18	3.8%
18–64 years	18.8%
65 and over	37.1%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	53.3%
Public insurance	54.6%
No insurance	6.9%
Uninsured under 19	10.2%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	1,396	97.3%
Spanish	1	0.1%
Other Indo-European	1	0.1%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	1,431	99.7%
Born in same state	1,425	99.3%
Born in different state	615	42.9%
Foreign born	6	0.4%
Naturalized citizen	4	0.3%
Not a US citizen	3	75.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
French	216	15.1%
Italian	211	14.7%
Arab	152	10.6%
German	25	1.7%

Ancestry	Count	%
Dutch	23	1.6%
English	13	0.9%
Irish	3	0.2%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	41.0%
Internet access	90.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 05038

What city is ZIP code 05038 in?

ZIP code 05038 is primarily assigned to Chelsea, Vermont.

What county is ZIP code 05038 in?

ZIP code 05038 falls within Orange County, Vermont.

Is ZIP code 05038 mostly owner-occupied?

84% of occupied units in ZIP code 05038 are owner-occupied, well above the national average.

Does ZIP code 05038 have a large retiree population?

42% of households in ZIP code 05038 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the population of ZIP code 05038?

ZIP code 05038 has an estimated population of 1,435 residents, with a density of 33 people per square mile.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 05038?

The median home value in ZIP code 05038 is $206,700.

What timezone is ZIP code 05038 in?

ZIP code 05038 observes the EST timezone.