Nelson County, Virginia Demographics 2026

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

Nelson County, Virginia has a population of 14,777, the 100th most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $68,525 and the median home value is $283,000. The poverty rate is 14.4%.

Nelson County Quick Facts

Population 14,777

Median Household Income $68,525

Median Home Value $283,000

Poverty Rate 14.4%

Unemployment Rate 3.3%

Median Age 51.3 years

Homeownership Rate 79.2%

Affordability Ratio 4.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 33.7%

High School Graduation 88.7%

Cities/Places 5

Population 14,777 100th of 133

Median Income $68,525 25% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.4%

Unemployment 3.3%

Median Household Income

Nelson

$68,525

$90,974

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Nelson

$283,000

$360,700

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.3%

$25K-$50K 16.2%

$50K-$100K 28.6%

$100K+ 35.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

8.8%

$10K-$15K

5.7%

$15K-$20K

2.8%

$20K-$25K

2.1%

$25K-$30K

2.3%

$30K-$35K

2.5%

$35K-$40K

2.5%

$40K-$45K

4.0%

$45K-$50K

4.8%

$50K-$60K

9.1%

$60K-$75K

7.1%

$75K-$100K

12.4%

$100K-$125K

9.3%

$125K-$150K

5.0%

$150K-$200K

10.0%

$200K+

11.6%

Employment

3.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%

54.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.2%

Renter 20.8%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.1x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.7%

18-34

16.4%

35-54

20.3%

55-74

34.8%

75+

10.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

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

State average: 60 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Nelson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Nellysford	1,623	$133,036	17.1%	$520,000
Arrington	1,084	$47,000	23.9%	$144,300
Shipman	489	$45,982	21.3%	$237,900
Lovingston	430	N/A	33.0%	$288,200
Schuyler	250	$23,542	78.8%	N/A

Explore Virginia 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 Virginia with a total population of 14,777. It is the 100th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nelson County is 51.3 years. This is 32% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 10.8% 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 $68,525. This is 25% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 14.4%. This is 45% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $283,000. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 79.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Nelson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.7%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

33.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Nelson County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Virginia 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, Virginia?

Nelson County has a population of 14,777, making it the 100th most populous county in Virginia.

What is the median income in Nelson County?

The median household income in Nelson County is $68,525 with a poverty rate of 14.4%.

How many cities are in Nelson County, Virginia?

Nelson County contains 5 Census-designated places.