Nelson County, VA 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 | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,783 | 8,661,529 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 31.2 | 202.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.05% | 0.60% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 52.2 | 37.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 6,470 | 3,324,966 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Nelson County declined by 2.8% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 14,777 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 | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,389 | $91,409 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.87% | 4.62% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 4.2% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Nelson County is about 22% lower than in Virginia.
Housing
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $39,335 | $257,048 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $950 | $1,514 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.2% | 67.2% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Nelson County is about 3.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $950 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Nelson County spend about 63 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 264 hours, about 11.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 31.6 | 23.3 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 63.3 | 46.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 264 | 194 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $8,173 | $6,010 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 22.7% | 16.2% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 6,116 | 10,059 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 737 | 1,531 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Virginia:
Lexington city (8.7 min), Norton city (11.5 min), Covington city (11.8 min).
Slowest:
Surry County (43.2 min), Amelia County (40.4 min), Buckingham County (38.3 min).
The average commute time in Nelson County is 32 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Virginia.
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 C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 37.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.26 | 2.53 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Virginia:
Falls Church city (0.6), Arlington County (0.6), Alexandria city (0.5).
Lowest:
Greensville County (0.2), Lunenburg County (0.2), Buchanan County (0.2).
Health
Nelson County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.8 | 77.3 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 16.8% | 16.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 18.1% | 19.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Virginia:
Falls Church city (0.8), Arlington County (0.8), Fairfax County (0.8).
Lowest:
Emporia city (0.7), Petersburg city (0.8), Galax city (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Nelson County, Virginia.
What is the population of Nelson County, Virginia?
The population of Nelson County, Virginia is 14,783, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Nelson County, Virginia?
The population density of Nelson County, Virginia is 31.2 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, Virginia?
The median household income in Nelson County, Virginia is $71,389, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Nelson County, Virginia?
The median home price in Nelson County, Virginia is $39,335, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Nelson County, Virginia?
The unemployment rate in Nelson County, Virginia is 3.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.