Nelson County, KY Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Nelson County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,278 | 4,499,518 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 111.5 | 111.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.69% | 0.30% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 38.4 | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 18,780 | 1,791,595 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Nelson County grew by 11.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 47,102 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Nelson County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Nelson County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,450 | $62,784 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.98% | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Nelson County is about 9% higher than in Kentucky.
Housing
| Metric | Nelson County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $181,691 | $126,174 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $932 | $933 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.3% | 68.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Nelson County is about 16.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $932 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Nelson County spend about 44 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 182 hours, about 7.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Nelson County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 21.8 | 20.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 43.6 | 41.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 182 | 173 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,628 | $5,361 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 9.1% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 5,812 | 6,995 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 534 | 832 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Kentucky:
Calloway County (13.4 min), McCracken County (14.0 min), Clinton County (15.3 min).
Slowest:
Owen County (37.1 min), Menifee County (36.6 min), Bracken County (33.6 min).
The average commute time in Nelson County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Kentucky.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Nelson County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Nelson County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 24.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.48 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Kentucky:
Fayette County (0.4), Oldham County (0.4), Campbell County (0.3).
Lowest:
Leslie County (0.1), Lee County (0.1), Elliott County (0.1).
Health
Nelson County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Nelson County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.8 | 75.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 17.7% | 23.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 21.5% | 26.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Kentucky:
Oldham County (0.8), Boone County (0.8), Scott County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clay County (0.7), Bell County (0.7), McCreary County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Nelson County, Kentucky.
What is the population of Nelson County, Kentucky?
The population of Nelson County, Kentucky is 47,278, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Nelson County, Kentucky?
The population density of Nelson County, Kentucky is 111.5 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Nelson County, Kentucky?
The median household income in Nelson County, Kentucky is $68,450, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Nelson County, Kentucky?
The median home price in Nelson County, Kentucky is $181,691, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Nelson County, Kentucky?
The unemployment rate in Nelson County, Kentucky is 3.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.