Nelson County, North Dakota Income Statistics
Nelson County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Nelson County Around averageLess wealthy than 83% of counties in North Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Nelson County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,999 | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,090 | $59,016 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 3.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.5% | 12.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.2% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Nelson County is about 9% lower than in North Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Nelson County (3.9%/yr) than in North Dakota (3.3%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Nelson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Dakota average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Nelson County, North Dakota grew by 93.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,999 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Nelson County
| Metric | Nelson County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.487 | 0.506 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,421 | $67,903 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,188 | $53,536 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.0% | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Nelson County, it is 0.487, lower than North Dakota's 0.506, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 37% more than women's income in Nelson County, North Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 37% wage gap accumulates to roughly $638,155 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Nelson County, North Dakota has widened from about 13% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $13,894 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Nelson County widened by 14.2 points while North Dakota's narrowed by 7.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Nelson County | North Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.1% | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.1% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 13 | 22 |
Approximately 16 people are unemployed in Nelson County, North Dakota.
The average commute time in Nelson County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 13 minutes in North Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Nelson County, North Dakota has fallen from 2.7% to 1.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.0% in 2015.
Nelson County, ND Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Nelson County, ND is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 3,016 residents against a local median of 10,396. Nelson County, ND's unemployment, at 1.1%, runs 43% below the 1.9% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.1% on unemployment, so Nelson County, ND sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Nelson County, ND has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County, ND | 3,016 | $69,999 #3/6 | 3.9%/yr #3/6 | 1.1% #1/6 | 0.487 #1/6 |
| Griggs County, ND | 2,245 | $62,216 | 2.8%/yr | 1.4% | 0.501 |
| Ramsey County, ND | 11,556 | $62,525 | 2.8%/yr | 1.2% | 0.496 |
| Walsh County, ND | 10,396 | $72,514 | 4.4%/yr | 1.9% | 0.490 |
| Steele County, ND | 1,804 | $76,562 | 3.5%/yr | 3.3% | 0.526 |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 72,923 | $69,503 | 4.0%/yr | 2.3% | 0.513 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Nelson County, North Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with North Dakota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Nelson County, North Dakota.
How Rich Is Nelson County, North Dakota?
Nelson County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,999, about 9% lower than the North Dakota average of $76,862.
Are incomes growing in Nelson County, North Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Nelson County, North Dakota rose 93%, from $36,232 to $69,999. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Dakota as a whole: +93% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Nelson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Nelson County, North Dakota was $68,578, up 7% from $63,974 in 2022. The North Dakota median that year was $76,063.
What was the median household income in Nelson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Nelson County, North Dakota was $51,486. By 2024 it had risen 36% to $69,999.
Is unemployment high in Nelson County, North Dakota?
Unemployment in Nelson County, North Dakota is only 1.1%, well below the North Dakota rate of 2.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Nelson County, North Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Nelson County is 0.487. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Nelson County, North Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Nelson County, North Dakota has widened from about 13% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $13,894 since 2009.
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