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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Nelson County

North Dakota · 4,410 residents · 981.815 sq mi
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The short version

Nelson County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $19,360. Population has grown 19% since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $23,600. With a median age of 45.3, the population is older than the US median of 33.0.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 45.3
US median: 33.0
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 14%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,410
+19%vs 2000
vs 3,715 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
45.3
−4%vs 2000
vs 47.2 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K4K4K5K1990201020202024Nelson County
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 55.4%(237)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97.1%(314)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.1%(313)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 195.5%(241)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 242.3%(103)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3411.2%(493)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4411%(487)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411.6%(511)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6412.2%(537)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 7412.7%(561)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 849.3%(409)
US avg: 4%
85 and over4.6%(204)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$19,360
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $28,892 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$9,590
−41%vs 2000
vs $16,320 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
14.0%
+3.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 10.3% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$23,600
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $36,000 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$214
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $275 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
76.0%
−4.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 80.2% in 2000
24.0% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic99.5%(4,389)
Black0.1%(5)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(10)
Asian0.1%(5)
Other0.2%(11)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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
10.6%
−6.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 17.5% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
69.4%
−11.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 81.4% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
2.0%
−0.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 2.5% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.1 min
+62%vs 2000
vs 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
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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Pop 2,617
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Head to head

Compare Nelson County to nearby counties

NELSON COUNTY VS
Griggs County
Income$61,711+219%
Home value$119,300+406%
Population2,239−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Ramsey County
Income$61,006+215%
Home value$199,300+744%
Population11,530+289%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Grand Forks County
Income$68,075+252%
Home value$252,700+971%
Population74,501+2414%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income$50,850+163%
Home value$124,000+425%
Population2,329−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Nelson County, North Dakota?

Nelson County, North Dakota has about 4,410 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Nelson County, North Dakota?

The typical household in Nelson County, North Dakota earns about $19,360 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 $23,600, and the typical rent is about $214 a month.

How educated are people in Nelson County, North Dakota?

About 10.6% 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 14.0% of people in Nelson County, North Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

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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 →