Nelsonia, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 608, Nelsonia'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

Nelsonia is a small community located in Virginia, within Accomack County. The total population is 608. It ranks as the 445th most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nelsonia is 41.9 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. With 31.3% of the population under 18, Nelsonia has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nelsonia is $88,685. This is 5% lower than the state median of $93,170. It is also 10% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.7%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 41% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $136,200. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $383,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Nelsonia is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nelsonia is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 32.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (32.1% vs 18.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (17.8% vs 11.0%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 6.9%.

Education

15.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 62% lower than the state rate of 42.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 75.8%. Notably, 15.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Nelsonia, Virginia 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 Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 681 Census-designated places in Virginia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.