United States › Kentucky › Nelson County COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS
Nelson County Kentucky · 37,477 residents · 419 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Nelson County is home to 37,477 people in Kentucky. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 78% of homes are owner-occupied. 7,767 more people live here than in 1990. Home values have more than doubled since 1990, reaching $86,500. Households here earn about 16% more than in Kentucky as a whole.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 34.9
US median: 35.2
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 31.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
28K 33K 39K 44K 49K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Nelson County Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $39,010
+22%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $24,220 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $10,165 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 15.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$86,500
+44%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $45,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$426
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $292 in 1990
US average: $602
from 78.0% in 1990
22.0% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 93.5%(27,779)
Hispanic / Latino 0.2%(64)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 92.3%(34,579)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(395)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Ancestry
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data from 9.3% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 67.4% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 4.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 24.4 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 27.5%(3,872)
Women 15+
Never married 20.9%(3,079)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 62.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 18.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 18.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 75.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 35.0% 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) 21.9%(572)
Gulf War (1990s) 21.3%(556)
Share of the 2,614 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Nelson County Head to head
Compare Nelson County to nearby counties NELSON COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income $61,616 +58%
Home value $179,200 +107%
Population 12,368 −75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Bullitt County
Income $80,558 +107%
Home value $247,200 +186%
Population 86,454 +76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Spencer County
Income $102,618 +163%
Home value $330,000 +282%
Population 20,998 −57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income $59,627 +53%
Home value $168,100 +94%
Population 20,115 −59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Nelson County, Kentucky? Nelson County, Kentucky has about 37,477 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Nelson County, Kentucky? The typical household in Nelson County, Kentucky earns about $39,010 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 $86,500, and the typical rent is about $426 a month.
How educated are people in Nelson County, Kentucky? About 13.4% 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 12.2% 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 7,767 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.
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