United States › North Dakota › Nelson County COUNTY
Nelson County North Dakota · 2,963 residents (2025 est.) · 982 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 3,016 people, Nelson County is a county in North Dakota. At a median age of 50.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. There are 3 people per square mile. Home values have more than tripled since 2000, reaching $139,700. Median rent is $582 a month. 3% of locals were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 50.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 113%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 3,715 in 2000
2,963 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 47.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 4K 4K 5K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Nelson County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $67,193
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,892 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,320 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.442 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 21.1%
Transportation & warehousing 5.3%
Public administration 4.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.6%
Education & health services 0.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$139,700
+113%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$582
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $275 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 80.2% in 2000
24.9% rent
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.08 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.4 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 98.5%(3,661)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 91.6%(2,763)
from 6 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 81.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 72.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 74.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 41.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 13.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 7.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 67.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 88.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 50.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 29.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 27.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 10.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 79.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 35.8% 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) 13.3%(28)
Share of the 210 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
Griggs County
Income $61,711 −8%
Home value $119,300 −15%
Population 2,239 −24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Ramsey County
Income $61,006 −9%
Home value $199,300 +43%
Population 11,530 +289%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Grand Forks County
Income $68,075 +1%
Home value $252,700 +81%
Population 74,501 +2414%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income $50,850 −24%
Home value $124,000 −11%
Population 2,329 −21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Nelson County, North Dakota? Nelson County, North Dakota has about 3,016 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Nelson County, North Dakota? The typical household in Nelson County, North Dakota earns about $67,193 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Nelson County, North Dakota expensive? In Nelson County, North Dakota, the median home is worth about $139,700, and the typical rent is about $582 a month.
How educated are people in Nelson County, North Dakota? About 29.4% of adults age 25 and over in Nelson County, North Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Nelson County, North Dakota? About 7.2% of people in Nelson County, North Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Nelson County, North Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Nelson County, North Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,394 residents, a change of about -32 percent over that period.
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