United States › Minnesota › Nelson CITY
Nelson Minnesota · 186 residents (2025 est.) · 0.66 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Nelson is a city of 155 people in Minnesota. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 4% of adults. The median age is 48.1, about 9 years above the US median. 0% of locals were born outside the United States. Households here earn about 36% less than in Minnesota as a whole. The typical home is worth $157,500, having more than doubled since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
4% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 172 in 2000
186 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 247 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
86 119 152 184 217 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Nelson Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $57,188
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,375 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,419 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 23.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.299 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 7.1%
Transportation & warehousing 1%
Arts, entertainment, food 1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
Education & health services 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$157,500
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,000
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $430 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 76.7% in 2000
45.5% rent
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.20 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.7%(168)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 92.9%(144)
from 0 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 7.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 86.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 0.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 8.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 81.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 85.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 97.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 18.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 16.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 67.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 77.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 80.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 94.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 5.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 35.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 27.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 22.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 27.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 65.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 44.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 0%(0)
Share of the 6 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Nelson, Minnesota? Nelson, Minnesota has about 155 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Nelson, Minnesota? The typical household in Nelson, Minnesota earns about $57,188 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Nelson, Minnesota expensive? In Nelson, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $157,500, and the typical rent is about $1,000 a month.
How educated are people in Nelson, Minnesota? About 3.5% of adults age 25 and over in Nelson, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Nelson, Minnesota? About 9.0% of people in Nelson, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Nelson, Minnesota grown since 1990? Yes, Nelson, Minnesota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 14 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.
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