United States › Virginia › Nelson County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Nelson County Virginia · 14,775 residents · 471 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 14,775 people, Nelson County is a county in Virginia. At a median age of 52.0, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 79% of the housing stock. 4% of locals were born outside the United States. That trails the Virginia median by roughly 19%. People stay put here: 92% were in the same home a year ago.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 52.0
US median: 38.8
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 65%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 42.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
13K 13K 14K 15K 15K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Nelson County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $62,203
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,769 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $22,230 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.2%
Public administration 3.1%
Transportation & warehousing 1.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.4%
Education & health services 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.1%
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$233,400
+65%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $94,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$834
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 80.8% in 2000
21.3% rent
2.30 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 81.4%(11,765)
Hispanic / Latino 2.1%(305)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 80.4%(11,879)
Hispanic / Latino 4.5%(663)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 20.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 69.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 24.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 70.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 60.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 32.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 12.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
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: 8.8%
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) 18%(209)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.5%(238)
Share of the 1,162 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 +10%
Home value $212,400 −9%
Population 31,962 +114%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Waynesboro
Income $59,994 −4%
Home value $245,500 +5%
Population 23,951 +61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Albemarle County
Income $104,392 +68%
Home value $495,400 +112%
Population 118,356 +693%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NELSON COUNTY VS
Buckingham County
Income $60,828 −2%
Home value $173,400 −26%
Population 17,137 +15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Nelson County, Virginia? Nelson County, Virginia has about 14,775 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Nelson County, Virginia? The typical household in Nelson County, Virginia earns about $62,203 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 $233,400, and the typical rent is about $834 a month.
How educated are people in Nelson County, Virginia? About 30.9% 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 11.5% 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 1,997 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.
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