COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Nelson County

North Dakota · 4,410 residents · 982 sq mi

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The short version

Nelson County is home to 4,410 people in North Dakota. At a median age of 45.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Median home value sits at $23,600. 76% of homes are owner-occupied. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Renters pay $214 a month at the median.

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

Land area

982 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20243K

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

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)

Central American0.2%(7)

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)

French Canadian0.3%(9)

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

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

4.0%

−3.5 ptssince 2013

from 7.5% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

54.1%

+3.6 ptssince 2020

from 50.5% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

23.9%

−6.0 ptssince 2020

from 29.9% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

28.1%

+1.0 ptssince 2020

from 27.1% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

13.5%

+3.0 ptssince 2020

from 10.5% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

3.9%

−0.4 ptssince 2020

from 4.3% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

75.9%

−3.4 ptssince 2020

from 79.3% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

39.8%

+4.0 ptssince 2020

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)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)20%(42)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era51.4%(108)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War10.5%(22)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II1.4%(3)

US avg: 1%

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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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