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COUNTY

Nelson County

North Dakota · 2,963 residents (2025 est.) · 981.815 sq mi
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#111Lowest unemploymentof 3,1441.1%
The short version

Nelson County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,193. Population has fallen 19% since 2000, a loss of 699 residents. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $139,700. With a median age of 50.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

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

Total population
3,016
−19%since 2000
from 3,715 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3 / sq mi
−7%since 2009
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
50.1
+6%since 2000
from 47.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,963 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K4K4K5K1990201020202024Nelson County
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.6%(140)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.9%(207)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.4%(163)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.5%(166)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 242.9%(87)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.9%(299)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.8%(296)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.4%(283)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6417.3%(522)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.3%(460)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.6%(229)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over5.4%(164)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,193
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,892 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$46,126
+183%since 2000
from $16,320 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.9%
+31.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.496
+12%since 2010
from 0.442 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing21.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction20.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade9.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Information7.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Transportation & warehousing5.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Retail trade5%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$139,700
+113%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$582
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $275 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.1%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
24.9% rent
Vacancy rate
25.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
15.3%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+50%since 2009
from 1.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
88
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-Hispanic98.5%(3,661)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(6)
Asian0.3%(11)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.6%(2,763)
Black0.5%(14)
Hispanic / Latino3%(89)
Asian0.7%(22)
Other4.2%(128)
Diversity Score
20
+237%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.1%(63)
Honduran0.2%(7)
Cuban0.1%(3)
Asian origin
Filipino0.7%(22)
Ancestry
Norwegian43.2%(1,304)
German29.3%(883)
Swedish5.4%(162)
Irish5.2%(157)
English4.4%(133)
Czech3.7%(111)
French2.8%(83)
Finnish2.2%(67)
Russian2.1%(62)
Scottish1.9%(58)
Polish1.1%(33)
American1.1%(32)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Italian0.8%(25)
Romanian0.7%(20)
British0.5%(16)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(14)
Ukrainian0.4%(13)
Slovak0.3%(10)
Danish0.3%(8)
Swiss0.2%(7)
Welsh0.2%(5)
Dutch0.1%(4)
Brazilian0.1%(3)
Canadian0.1%(3)
Lithuanian0.1%(3)
Belgian0.1%(2)
RANKED:Largest Norwegian population · Largest German population · Largest Swedish population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.4%
+12.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.1%
+11.8 ptssince 2000
from 81.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.7%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.6 min
+9%since 2000
from 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 72.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.1%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
9.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 2.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2011
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
46.3%
−22.1 ptssince 2009
from 68.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
3.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.8%
−39.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.4%
+3.9 ptssince 2012
from 13.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.0%
−88.5 ptssince 2013
from 92.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.5%
+16.1 ptssince 2017
from 67.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2016
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.6%(304)
Married64.3%(827)
Widowed3.2%(41)
Divorced8.9%(114)
Women 15+
Never married18.8%(229)
Married58.2%(710)
Widowed13.6%(166)
Divorced9.4%(115)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Nelson County to nearby counties

NELSON COUNTY VS
Griggs County
Income$61,711−8%
Home value$119,300−15%
Population2,239−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Ramsey County
Income$61,006−9%
Home value$199,300+43%
Population11,530+289%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Grand Forks County
Income$68,075+1%
Home value$252,700+81%
Population74,501+2414%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income$50,850−24%
Home value$124,000−11%
Population2,329−21%
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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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9590
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 58344ZIP 58254ZIP 58380ZIP 58259ZIP 58212ZIP 58361ZIP 58272ZIP 58224
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →