Nelson County, Virginia 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 98% above the Virginia median More expensive than 92% of counties in Virginia$508,246
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Median rent 40% below the Virginia median$946
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $508,246 | $256,082 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 141.9% | 3.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $946 | $1,579 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.5% | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Nelson County is about 98% higher than in Virginia. Rent is about 40% lower than the Virginia 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 141.9% and 4.5% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Nelson County rose about 33.5% between 2015 and 2024, from $708 to $946. Over the same span, rent in Virginia rose about 41.5%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 6.8 yearly household incomes in Nelson County.
Buying the median-priced home in Nelson County costs roughly 44.8 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Nelson County. The price-to-rent ratio in Virginia is about 13.5.
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $508,246 | $256,082 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $74,353 | $93,527 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 6.8 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Nelson County fell about 0.7%, while median household income rose about 55.2% between 2009 and 2025 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 61.5% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 12.9% | 29.8% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 36.3% | 8.7% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 19.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2007 | 2011 | 2011 |
Nelson County has a homeownership rate of 50.7%, lower than the Virginia average of 61.5%. Its housing vacancy rate is 36.3%, compared with 8.7% in Virginia.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.30 people | 2.52 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1983 | 1982 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.8 | 6.0 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Nelson County was built around 1983. On average, 2.3 people live in a home with about 5.8 rooms, staying for about 19.0 years on average.
Nelson County, VA Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
How Nelson County, VA compares with the 2 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County, VA | 14,732 | $508,246 #1/3 | $946 #2/3 | 79.7% #2/3 |
| Amherst County, VA | 31,478 | $337,931 | $871 | 80.8% |
| Albemarle County, VA | 114,898 | $379,048 | $1,691 | 65.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Nelson County, Virginia.
What is the median home price in Nelson County, Virginia?
The median home price in Nelson County, Virginia is $508,246, higher than the Virginia average of $256,082.
What is the average home price in Nelson County, Virginia?
The typical home price in Nelson County, Virginia, reported as the median sale price, is $508,246. 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, Virginia?
The median gross rent in Nelson County, Virginia is $946 per month, lower than the Virginia average of $1,579.
What was the median gross rent in Nelson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Nelson County, Virginia was $834 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Nelson County, Virginia?
The price-to-rent ratio in Nelson County, Virginia is about 44.8, meaning it would take roughly 44.8 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Nelson County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Nelson County, Virginia?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Nelson County, up about 141.9% and 4.5% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Nelson County, Virginia?
50.7% of households in Nelson County, Virginia own their home, lower than the Virginia average of 61.5%.
What is the vacancy rate in Nelson County, Virginia?
The housing vacancy rate in Nelson County, Virginia is 36.3%, higher than the Virginia average of 8.7%.
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