United States › Virginia › Nelson County COUNTY
Nelson County Virginia · 14,920 residents (2025 est.) · 471 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Nelson County is a county of 14,732 people in Virginia. At a median age of 51.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. That puts it in the top 9% of US counties for household income. Owners hold 80% of the housing stock. Density works out to 31 people per square mile. 5% of locals were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 51.3
US median: 38.9
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 88%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 14,445 in 2000
14,920 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 32 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 42.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
13K 13K 14K 15K 15K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Nelson County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $72,589
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,769 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $22,230 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.440 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.5%
Public administration 2.3%
Transportation & warehousing 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.3%
Education & health services 0.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$321,700
+88%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $94,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$946
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 80.8% in 2000
20.3% rent
from 31.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.30 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 23.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 31.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.6 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.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 81.4%(11,765)
Hispanic / Latino 2.1%(305)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 79.8%(11,752)
Hispanic / Latino 4.8%(705)
from 39 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 21 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data from 20.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 69.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 24.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 70.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 60.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 67.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 32.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 15.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 12.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 60.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 92.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 96.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 27.6%(1,725)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 51.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 20.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 28.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 14.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 68.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 41.4% 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) 19.7%(218)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.1%(189)
Share of the 1,104 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
Amherst County
Income $68,724 −5%
Home value $212,400 −34%
Population 31,962 +114%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Waynesboro
Income $59,994 −17%
Home value $245,500 −24%
Population 23,951 +61%
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NELSON COUNTY VS
Albemarle County
Income $104,392 +44%
Home value $495,400 +54%
Population 118,356 +693%
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NELSON COUNTY VS
Buckingham County
Income $60,828 −16%
Home value $173,400 −46%
Population 17,137 +15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Nelson County, Virginia? Nelson County, Virginia has about 14,732 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Nelson County, Virginia? The typical household in Nelson County, Virginia earns about $72,589 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Nelson County, Virginia expensive? In Nelson County, Virginia, the median home is worth about $321,700, and the typical rent is about $946 a month.
How educated are people in Nelson County, Virginia? About 36.3% of adults age 25 and over in Nelson County, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Nelson County, Virginia? About 12.5% of people in Nelson County, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Nelson County, Virginia grown since 1990? Yes, Nelson County, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,954 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.
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