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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Nelson County

North Dakota · 3,126 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 $39,071. Population has fallen 16% since 2000, a loss of 589 residents. Median home value is $51,100. With a median age of 51.5, the population is older than the US median of 37.2.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 51.5
US median: 37.2
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,126
−16%since 2000
from 3,715 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3 / sq mi
−16%since 2000
from 4 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
51.5
+9%since 2000
from 47.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K4K4K5K1990201020202024Nelson County
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,071
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,892 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,838
+40%since 2000
from $16,320 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
15.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
9.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.442
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Agriculture, forestry, fishing21.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction21.5%
US avg: 1.4%
Information10.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Transportation & warehousing5.6%
US avg: 3.1%
Retail trade5.5%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services3%
US avg: 7%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 2.4%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$51,100
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$366
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $275 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
27.5%
−52.7 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
20.5% rent
Vacancy rate
25.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
16.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
24.2%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
1.3
+5%since 2000
from 1.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score1.4%(50)
2010
White, non-Hispanic96.5%(3,018)
Black0.3%(8)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(33)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other0.8%(25)
Diversity Score5.4%(168)
Diversity Score
5
+298%since 2000
from 1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.4%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
88.8%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 81.4% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
3.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+18%since 2000
from 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
72.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 72.2% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
6.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
14.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
6.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
3.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
39.5%
−28.9 ptssince 2009
from 68.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
49.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
19.6%
−28.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Nelson County

Gove County
Pop 2,631
Sierra County
Pop 3,098
Ness County
Pop 2,617
Traverse County
Pop 3,130
Places similar to Nelson County
Head to head

Compare Nelson County to nearby counties

NELSON COUNTY VS
Griggs County
Income$61,711+58%
Home value$119,300+133%
Population2,239−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Ramsey County
Income$61,006+56%
Home value$199,300+290%
Population11,530+289%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Grand Forks County
Income$68,075+74%
Home value$252,700+395%
Population74,501+2414%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income$50,850+30%
Home value$124,000+143%
Population2,329−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Nelson County, North Dakota?

Nelson County, North Dakota has about 3,126 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Nelson County, North Dakota earns about $39,071 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 $51,100, and the typical rent is about $366 a month.

How educated are people in Nelson County, North Dakota?

About 21.4% 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 9.9% 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 1,284 residents, a change of about -29 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 →