COUNTY
Nelson County
Kentucky · 49,036 residents (2025 est.) · 418.685 sq mi
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The short version
Nelson County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $69,562. Population has grown 27% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $238,000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth
PEP 2025 EST:49,036 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)
Population, 1990 – 2024
202448K
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56%(2,876)
5 to 96.8%(3,250)
10 to 146.2%(2,934)
15 to 196%(2,866)
20 to 245.7%(2,731)
25 to 3413.2%(6,305)
35 to 4412.1%(5,765)
45 to 5412.7%(6,056)
55 to 6413.7%(6,532)
65 to 7410.9%(5,194)
75 to 845%(2,388)
85 and over1.5%(709)
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy
$69,562
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,010 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Households earning $100K+
45.9%
+23.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade22.1%
Information10.6%
Wholesale trade7.5%
Finance & insurance6.8%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
Other services4%
Public administration3.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
Education & health services1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
Construction0.5%
Manufacturing0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03
Housing
$238,000
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
3.4
+37%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
74
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Nelson County on RentDataNow
Section 04
Race & ethnicity
2000
White, non-Hispanic92.3%(34,579)
Black5.5%(2,054)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(395)
Asian0.5%(189)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.1%(42,424)
Black5.2%(2,472)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(1,397)
Asian0.5%(229)
Other2.3%(1,084)
25
+30%since 2009
from 19 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
34
−11%since 2020
from 38 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry
Hispanic origin
Mexican2.1%(979)
Central American0.3%(156)
Puerto Rican0.3%(152)
South American0.2%(107)
Peruvian0.1%(57)
Guatemalan0.1%(55)
Honduran0.1%(51)
Colombian0.1%(50)
Salvadoran0.1%(27)
Panamanian0%(23)
Asian origin
Japanese0.2%(95)
Asian Indian0.2%(86)
Korean0.1%(26)
Chinese0%(12)
Cambodian0%(10)
Filipino0%(7)
Pacific Islander origin
Guamanian0%(14)
Ancestry
English16.7%(7,969)
American13.7%(6,502)
Irish11.6%(5,516)
German10.6%(5,050)
Italian2.2%(1,048)
Scottish2%(929)
French1.3%(606)
Swedish1%(497)
Scotch-Irish1%(485)
Welsh0.9%(419)
Polish0.5%(258)
Latvian0.5%(254)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.5%(253)
Russian0.3%(159)
British0.3%(133)
Subsaharan African0.2%(107)
Portuguese0.2%(81)
Belgian0.2%(76)
Ukrainian0.1%(61)
Norwegian0.1%(46)
Swiss0.1%(46)
Romanian0.1%(35)
Finnish0.1%(34)
Croatian0%(21)
Hungarian0%(21)
Slovak0%(20)
Danish0%(17)
Canadian0%(15)
Lithuanian0%(15)
French Canadian0%(14)
Austrian0%(9)
Serbian0%(4)
Slovene0%(3)
Section 05
Education
High school or higher
92.3%
+13.3 ptssince 2000
from 79.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Section 06
Commute & transportation
Section 07
Work & employment
Section 08
People & community
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.6%(5,764)
Married55.8%(10,514)
Widowed2%(386)
Divorced11.6%(2,195)
Women 15+
Never married22.5%(4,422)
Married55.3%(10,881)
Widowed9.2%(1,806)
Divorced13.1%(2,578)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Nelson County to nearby counties
NELSON COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income$61,616−11%
Home value$179,200−25%
Population12,368−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Bullitt County
Income$80,558+16%
Home value$247,200+4%
Population86,454+76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Spencer County
Income$102,618+48%
Home value$330,000+39%
Population20,998−57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income$59,627−14%
Home value$168,100−29%
Population20,115−59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Nelson County, Kentucky?
Nelson County, Kentucky has about 47,606 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Nelson County, Kentucky?
The typical household in Nelson County, Kentucky earns about $69,562 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Nelson County, Kentucky expensive?
In Nelson County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $238,000, and the typical rent is about $1,008 a month.
How educated are people in Nelson County, Kentucky?
About 23.8% of adults age 25 and over in Nelson County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Nelson County, Kentucky?
About 10.8% of people in Nelson County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.
Has Nelson County, Kentucky grown since 1990?
Yes, Nelson County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 17,896 residents, a change of about 60 percent over that period.
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024