United States › Kentucky › Nelson County COUNTY · 2010 ACS
Nelson County Kentucky · 43,437 residents · 419 sq mi
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The short version
Nelson County is home to 43,437 people in Kentucky. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 28% national rate. The foreign-born share is 2%. 76% of homes are owner-occupied. Median home value sits at $116,800. Median rent is $597 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 37.7
US median: 37.2
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth from 34.9 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
28K 33K 39K 44K 49K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Nelson County Age distribution, 2010
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Section 02
Income & economy $44,783
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,010 in 2000
US average: $52,703
from $18,120 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Professional, scientific, technical 4.5%
Public administration 3.2%
Transportation & warehousing 2.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.5%
Education & health services 0.9%
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$116,800
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,500 in 2000
US average: $225,659
$597
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $426 in 2000
US average: $853
from 78.0% in 2000
23.9% rent
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
from 2.55 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
from 37.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
from 2.5 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 92.3%(34,579)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(395)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 90.9%(39,498)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data from 13.4% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 79.0% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
from 6.1% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
from 82.6% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08
People & community from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 30.6%(5,764)
Women 15+
Never married 22.5%(4,422)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Nelson County Head to head
Compare Nelson County to nearby counties NELSON COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income $61,616 +38%
Home value $179,200 +53%
Population 12,368 −75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Bullitt County
Income $80,558 +80%
Home value $247,200 +112%
Population 86,454 +76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Spencer County
Income $102,618 +129%
Home value $330,000 +183%
Population 20,998 −57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income $59,627 +33%
Home value $168,100 +44%
Population 20,115 −59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Nelson County, Kentucky? Nelson County, Kentucky has about 43,437 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Nelson County, Kentucky? The typical household in Nelson County, Kentucky earns about $44,783 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 $116,800, and the typical rent is about $597 a month.
How educated are people in Nelson County, Kentucky? About 15.4% 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 14.2% 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 13,727 residents, a change of about 46 percent over that period.
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