Nelson County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Nelson County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 47,102. It is the 22nd most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nelson County is 39.7 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nelson County is $67,888. This is 9% higher than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 9.7%. This is 40% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $224,100. Housing costs are 17% higher than the state median of $192,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 77.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nelson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

22.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 27.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.9%.