Nielsville, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 102, Nielsville's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Nielsville is a small community located in Minnesota, within Polk County. The total population is 102. It ranks as the 793rd most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nielsville is 27.5 years. This is 29% lower than the state median of 38.8 years. With 46.1% of the population under 18, Nielsville has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nielsville is $32,500. This is 64% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 60% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 53.9%. This is 480% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $37,000. Housing costs are 89% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Nielsville is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nielsville is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 29.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (29.4% vs 6.4%).

Education

10.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 72% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Nielsville, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.