Chelsea, AL real estate & property management

Living in Chelsea

Chelsea for buyers, sellers, renters and rental owners

Chelsea is one of the newest cities in the Birmingham area. It became a city on March 1, 1996, and grew from 10,183 people in 2010 to 14,982 in 2020 (Census). Much of its housing is in subdivisions off US-280 and the local highways near it, with Double Oak Mountain to the northwest.

The area was first known as Melrose. When the railroad came through in 1908, the stop was renamed Chelsea because the line already had a Melrose, according to Discover Shelby, the county's tourism site. The city's main park still carries the old name: Melrose Park, next to the Chelsea Community Center.

For buyers and sellers, Chelsea is a US-280 market. Daily life runs along that corridor toward Inverness, Grandview and Birmingham, and many Chelsea subdivisions have HOAs. A Chelsea mailing address (ZIP 35043) does not by itself mean a home is inside city limits, so we check the parcel before anyone relies on city services or the Chelsea school zone.

Neighborhoods & areas

Chelsea neighborhoods and subdivisions

Chelsea's best-known subdivisions include Chelsea Park, Yellowleaf, the Chesser communities and Foothills Point, along with dozens of smaller subdivisions off Highway 39, Highway 11 and US-280.

Subdivision names come from MLS and plat records. Ask us about a specific one, including whether it is inside city limits.

• Chelsea Park

  A large subdivision that is also home to Chelsea Park Elementary School (9000 Chelsea Park Trail). Source

• Yellowleaf

  Yellowleaf and Yellowleaf Ridge Estates are subdivision names you will see on Chelsea listings. Source

• Chesser communities

  Chesser Plantation, Chesser Reserve and the Cottages at Chesser. Source

• Foothills of Chelsea & Foothills Point

  Subdivisions named for the Double Oak Mountain foothills. Source

• Also ask about

  Polo Crossings, Brook Chase Estates, Lime Creek at Chelsea Preserve, Chelsea Station and Hidden Pond Estate, among many others. Source

TODO (Srianil): confirm this list and add the Chelsea subdivisions where you have sold or managed homes.

Schools

Which schools serve Chelsea homes?

Chelsea does not have its own school district. Its public schools are part of Shelby County Schools: Chelsea Park Elementary and Forest Oaks Elementary (K–5) feed Chelsea Middle School (6–8) and Chelsea High School (9–12).

In 2022, Chelsea voters defeated a property tax increase that would have funded a separate city school district, so Chelsea stayed with Shelby County Schools. Around the same time the county board moved the Mt Laurel Elementary zone from the Chelsea schools to Oak Mountain, as ABC 33/40 reported. The city lists more than $2.2 million in school donations since 2000 on its schools page.

Because some homes with a Chelsea address feed into other Shelby County schools, confirm the zone for each address with Shelby County Schools before you buy, list or lease.

School zones can change. Always confirm the zone for a specific address with the school district.

Places & things to do

Parks, shopping and landmarks in Chelsea

Chelsea's public life centers on the Chelsea Community Center and Melrose Park, and on a calendar of city events led by ChelseaFest and the Big KaBoom each summer. Oak Mountain State Park is a short drive west.

• ChelseaFest & the Big KaBoom

  The city's Fourth of July celebration with live music, food trucks, vendors and fireworks. In 2026 it was held Saturday, June 27. Source

• Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting

  The Tree Lighting is set for December 4, 2026 on the City Hall lawn, and the Christmas Parade for Saturday, December 19, 2026. Source

• Chelsea Community Center & Melrose Park

  The community center (renovated in 2023 with two gyms and racquetball courts) and the Melrose Park splash pad next to it. Source

• Archery Park

  A city archery range with targets at several distances, raised platforms and a tournament range. Source

• Fire at the Foothills

  A spring BBQ and dessert cook-off that benefits the Kiwanis Club and Chelsea Fire & Rescue. Source

• Parks & Recreation

  Youth sports registration and park programs through the city's Parks & Recreation department. Source

Commute & access

Getting around from Chelsea

US-280 is Chelsea's main road, running northwest past Double Oak Mountain to Inverness, Grandview and Birmingham. From City Hall, downtown Birmingham is about 19 miles, roughly 29 minutes with no traffic; Grandview Medical Center is about 10 miles.

Highway 39 and Highway 11 are the main local routes (Chelsea Middle is on Highway 39 and Chelsea High on Highway 11). The Census puts Chelsea's mean travel time to work at 33.2 minutes (2020–2024). US-280 traffic is the biggest variable, so check a live map at your actual commute time.

* Approximate drive estimates from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), checked October 24, 2026, with no traffic. Rush-hour trips take longer; use the map link for a live estimate. Mean commute: Census QuickFacts.

Our work in Chelsea

AKS Realty Group in Chelsea

Sources

1. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Chelsea city, Alabama: 2010 and 2020 Census population; 2020–2024 ACS home value, gross rent, owner-occupied rate, commute
2. City of Chelsea: Schools: school addresses and city school donations
3. Shelby County Schools: Chelsea Park Elementary
4. Shelby County Schools: Forest Oaks Elementary
5. ABC 33/40: Chelsea stays with Shelby County school system (July 2022)
6. City of Chelsea: ChelseaFest and the Big KaBoom
7. City of Chelsea: Christmas Parade
8. City of Chelsea: Tree Lighting Ceremony
9. City of Chelsea: Parks & Recreation
10. Discover Shelby: Chelsea: Melrose history, incorporation date, community center, parks and events (county tourism site)
11. RE/MAX Alabama: Chelsea subdivisions: subdivision names (secondary source)
12. Wikipedia: Chelsea, Alabama: US-280 and Double Oak Mountain (secondary source)
13. OpenStreetMap / OSRM routing: drive distance and time estimates

Facts checked October 2026. Places, schools and roads change; tell us if something here is out of date.