CensusEasy
COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Nelson County

Virginia · 12,778 residents · 470.745 sq mi
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The short version

Nelson County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $23,705. Population has declined 12% since 2000. Median home value is $50,400. Households here earn about 29% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 37.1
US median: 33.0
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,778
−12%vs 2000
vs 14,445 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
37.1
−13%vs 2000
vs 42.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
13K13K14K15K15K1990201020202024Nelson County
202415K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.3%(804)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97%(895)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.1%(911)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.2%(793)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245%(636)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414.8%(1,887)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4417%(2,167)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.9%(1,270)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6410.9%(1,398)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 749.1%(1,167)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844.8%(613)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.9%(237)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$23,705
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $36,769 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$11,419
−49%vs 2000
vs $22,230 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
15.2%
+3.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 12.1% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$50,400
−29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $94,000 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$308
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $440 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
79.1%
−1.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 80.8% in 2000
20.9% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Nelson County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic81.4%(11,765)
Black14.8%(2,136)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(305)
Asian0.2%(32)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic79.9%(10,209)
Black18.8%(2,406)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(101)
Asian0.4%(46)
Other0.9%(117)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.4%(356)
Cuban1.4%(210)
Venezuelan0.2%(34)
Colombian0.1%(17)
Puerto Rican0.1%(15)
Spaniard0.1%(9)
Asian origin
Chinese0.7%(100)
Filipino0.1%(15)
Asian Indian0.1%(13)
Ancestry
English14.9%(2,197)
Irish13.9%(2,052)
German11.4%(1,683)
American7.5%(1,108)
Scottish4%(592)
Scotch-Irish3.6%(534)
Italian2.3%(335)
French1.8%(269)
Welsh1.5%(219)
Polish1.4%(203)
Kenyan1%(145)
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data
Ukrainian0.8%(118)
Dutch0.7%(107)
Norwegian0.6%(93)
Armenian0.5%(80)
Canadian0.5%(73)
Russian0.5%(70)
Greek0.4%(65)
Czech0.4%(56)
West Indian0.3%(45)
Jamaican0.2%(34)
Slovene0.2%(33)
Swedish0.2%(31)
Swiss0.2%(31)
Hungarian0.2%(27)
Croatian0.2%(26)
British0.1%(20)
Serbian0.1%(20)
Cape Verdean0.1%(17)
Austrian0.1%(16)
Slovak0.1%(15)
Finnish0.1%(11)
Lithuanian0.1%(9)
Portuguese0.1%(8)
Haitian0%(7)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.4%
−7.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 20.8% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
57.0%
−12.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 69.0% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
5.6%
−3.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 9.2% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.0 min
+10%vs 2000
vs 24.5 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 married27.6%(1,725)
Married57.6%(3,597)
Widowed3.7%(233)
Divorced11.1%(692)
Women 15+
Never married16%(1,006)
Married57.8%(3,648)
Widowed13.1%(823)
Divorced13.1%(829)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Nelson County

Clark County
Pop 15,114
De Witt County
Pop 15,118
Fremont County
Pop 14,208
Franklin County
Pop 15,889
Places similar to Nelson County
Head to head

Compare Nelson County to nearby counties

NELSON COUNTY VS
Amherst County
Income$68,724+190%
Home value$212,400+321%
Population31,962+114%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Waynesboro
Income$59,994+153%
Home value$245,500+387%
Population23,951+61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Albemarle County
Income$104,392+340%
Home value$495,400+883%
Population118,356+693%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Buckingham County
Income$60,828+157%
Home value$173,400+244%
Population17,137+15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Nelson County, Virginia?

Nelson County, Virginia has about 12,778 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Nelson County, Virginia?

The typical household in Nelson County, Virginia earns about $23,705 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 $50,400, and the typical rent is about $308 a month.

How educated are people in Nelson County, Virginia?

About 13.4% 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 15.2% of people in Nelson County, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Keep going

Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9501.01Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9501.02Census Tract 9502.01
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 22920ZIP 22967ZIP 22971ZIP 22958ZIP 22922ZIP 22969ZIP 22949ZIP 22938ZIP 24464ZIP 22976ZIP 22964ZIP 24581
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →