United States › North Dakota › Nelson County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Nelson County North Dakota · 3,015 residents · 982 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 3,015 people, Nelson County is a county in North Dakota. At a median age of 53.8, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 81% of homes are owner-occupied. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $96,100. Median rent is $506 a month. The foreign-born share is 4%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 53.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 78%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 47.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 4K 4K 5K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Nelson County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $53,063
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,892 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,320 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 17.4%
Transportation & warehousing 8.7%
Public administration 4.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.5%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$96,100
+78%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$506
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $275 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 80.2% in 2000
19.2% rent
from 2.08 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 98.5%(3,661)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 94.3%(2,844)
Hispanic / Latino 2.3%(69)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 81.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 72.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 41.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 7.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 15.9%(43)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.6%(61)
Share of the 270 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 +16%
Home value $119,300 +24%
Population 2,239 −24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Ramsey County
Income $61,006 +15%
Home value $199,300 +107%
Population 11,530 +289%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Grand Forks County
Income $68,075 +28%
Home value $252,700 +163%
Population 74,501 +2414%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income $50,850 −4%
Home value $124,000 +29%
Population 2,329 −21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Nelson County, North Dakota? Nelson County, North Dakota has about 3,015 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Nelson County, North Dakota? The typical household in Nelson County, North Dakota earns about $53,063 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 $96,100, and the typical rent is about $506 a month.
How educated are people in Nelson County, North Dakota? About 26.2% 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 10.4% 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 1,395 residents, a change of about -32 percent over that period.
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