Nelson County, North Dakota Housing Market Prices
Nelson County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 5% above the North Dakota median More expensive than 70% of counties in North Dakota$132,500
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Median rent 39% below the North Dakota median Cheaper than 88% of counties in North Dakota$581
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Nelson County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $132,500 | $125,877 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 28.7% | 0.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $581 | $953 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 2.6% | 3.3% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Nelson County is about 5% higher than in North Dakota. Rent is about 39% lower than the North Dakota average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Nelson County, up about 28.7% and 2.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Nelson County rose about 24.6% between 2015 and 2024, from $466 to $581. Over the same span, rent in North Dakota rose about 34.4%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 1.9 yearly household incomes in Nelson County.
Buying the median-priced home in Nelson County costs roughly 19.0 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Nelson County. The price-to-rent ratio in North Dakota is about 11.0.
| Metric | Nelson County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $132,500 | $125,877 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $69,999 | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 1.9 | 1.6 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Nelson County rose about 244.7%, while median household income rose about 72.7% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Nelson County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 55.2% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 18.7% | 32.6% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 25.0% | 12.3% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 20.0 | 14.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2006 | 2012 | 2011 |
Nelson County has a homeownership rate of 56.4%, higher than the North Dakota average of 55.2%. Its housing vacancy rate is 25.0%, compared with 12.3% in North Dakota.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Nelson County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.17 people | 2.29 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1963 | 1984 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 6.4 | 5.7 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Nelson County was built around 1963. On average, 2.2 people live in a home with about 6.4 rooms, staying for about 20.0 years on average.
Nelson County, ND Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
How Nelson County, ND compares with the 2 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County, ND | 3,016 | $132,500 #1/3 | $581 #3/3 | 75.1% #2/3 |
| Walsh County, ND | 10,396 | $95,238 | $747 | 76.0% |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 72,923 | $125,000 | $991 | 51.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Nelson County, North Dakota.
What is the median home price in Nelson County, North Dakota?
The median home price in Nelson County, North Dakota is $132,500, higher than the North Dakota average of $125,877.
What is the average home price in Nelson County, North Dakota?
The typical home price in Nelson County, North Dakota, reported as the median sale price, is $132,500. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Nelson County, North Dakota?
The median gross rent in Nelson County, North Dakota is $581 per month, lower than the North Dakota average of $953.
What was the median gross rent in Nelson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Nelson County, North Dakota was $506 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Nelson County, North Dakota?
The price-to-rent ratio in Nelson County, North Dakota is about 19.0, meaning it would take roughly 19.0 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Nelson County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Nelson County, North Dakota?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Nelson County, up about 28.7% and 2.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Nelson County, North Dakota?
56.4% of households in Nelson County, North Dakota own their home, higher than the North Dakota average of 55.2%.
What is the vacancy rate in Nelson County, North Dakota?
The housing vacancy rate in Nelson County, North Dakota is 25.0%, higher than the North Dakota average of 12.3%.
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