Nelson County, North Dakota Demographics 2026

Name: Nelson County, North Dakota Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Nelson County, North Dakota has a population of 3,016, the 34th most populous county in North Dakota. The median household income is $67,193 and the median home value is $139,700. The poverty rate is 7.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Nelson County Quick Facts

Population 3,016

Median Household Income $67,193

Median Home Value $139,700

Poverty Rate 7.2%

Unemployment Rate 1.1%

Median Age 50.1 years

Homeownership Rate 75.1%

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 29.4%

High School Graduation 93.1%

Cities/Places 8

Population 3,016 34th of 53

Median Income $67,193 12% lower than state

Poverty Rate 7.2%

Unemployment 1.1%

How Nelson County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	3,015	3,016	+0.0%
Median household income	$68,051	$67,193	-1.3%
Median home value	$114,500	$139,700	+22.0%

Median Household Income

Nelson

$67,193

$76,657

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Nelson

$139,700

$249,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.5%

$25K-$50K 19.1%

$50K-$100K 30.2%

$100K+ 33.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.1%

$10K-$15K

1.4%

$15K-$20K

3.7%

$20K-$25K

7.3%

$25K-$30K

4.0%

$30K-$35K

4.1%

$35K-$40K

2.4%

$40K-$45K

4.5%

$45K-$50K

4.1%

$50K-$60K

5.2%

$60K-$75K

12.3%

$75K-$100K

12.7%

$100K-$125K

9.5%

$125K-$150K

9.0%

$150K-$200K

7.5%

$200K+

7.2%

Employment

1.1% Unemployment Rate State: 2.8%|National: 5.2%

58.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.1%

Renter 24.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $582/mo 10.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.7%

18-34

14.5%

35-54

19.2%

55-74

32.6%

75+

13.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 32 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Nelson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Lakota	784	$66,090	14.6%	$167,800
McVille	365	$68,750	10.5%	$97,500
Michigan City	277	$75,000	4.7%	$120,000
Aneta	157	$41,979	3.7%	$72,500
Tolna	124	$39,821	13.7%	$83,000
Petersburg	120	$72,083	2.5%	$112,500
Pekin	62	$36,750	8.2%	$56,000
Dahlen	20	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore North Dakota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Nelson County is located in North Dakota with a total population of 3,016. It is the 34th most populous county out of 53 in North Dakota. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nelson County is 50.1 years. This is 40% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 13.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nelson County is $67,193. This is 12% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.2%. This is 34% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 1.1%. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $139,700. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Nelson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nelson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

29.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 32.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Nelson County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Dakota and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Nelson County, North Dakota?

Nelson County has a population of 3,016, making it the 34th most populous county in North Dakota.

What is the median income in Nelson County?

The median household income in Nelson County is $67,193 with a poverty rate of 7.2%.

How many cities are in Nelson County, North Dakota?

Nelson County contains 8 Census-designated places.