United States › Kentucky › Nelson County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Nelson County Kentucky · 46,738 residents · 419 sq mi
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The short version
Nelson County is home to 46,738 people in Kentucky. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Owners hold 76% of the housing stock. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. 9,261 more people live here than in 2000. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $164,200.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 34.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
28K 33K 39K 44K 49K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Nelson County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $63,032
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,010 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $18,120 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 6.4%
Public administration 3.5%
Transportation & warehousing 3.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.9%
Education & health services 1.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
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$164,200
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$799
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $426 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 78.0% in 2000
24.1% rent
from 2.55 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 88%(41,113)
Hispanic / Latino 2.6%(1,214)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 13.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 79.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 82.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 65.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
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 from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 14.9%(472)
Gulf War (1990s) 24.6%(781)
Share of the 3,172 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 −2%
Home value $179,200 +9%
Population 12,368 −75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Bullitt County
Income $80,558 +28%
Home value $247,200 +51%
Population 86,454 +76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Spencer County
Income $102,618 +63%
Home value $330,000 +101%
Population 20,998 −57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income $59,627 −5%
Home value $168,100 +2%
Population 20,115 −59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Nelson County, Kentucky? Nelson County, Kentucky has about 46,738 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Nelson County, Kentucky? The typical household in Nelson County, Kentucky earns about $63,032 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 $164,200, and the typical rent is about $799 a month.
How educated are people in Nelson County, Kentucky? About 19.3% 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 7.7% 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 17,028 residents, a change of about 57 percent over that period.
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