Nelson County, Virginia 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.
-
B
Nelson County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $74,353 | $93,527 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,871 | $68,139 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.8% | 18.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 12.3% | 17.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Nelson County is about 21% lower than in Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Nelson County (4.8%/yr) than in Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 14% of adults in Nelson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Virginia average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Nelson County, Virginia grew by 67.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $74,353 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Nelson County
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.531 | 0.544 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $68,979 | $78,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $56,844 | $62,626 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.6% | 20.3% | 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 0.531, lower than Virginia's 0.544, 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 21% more than women's income in Nelson County, Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $424,725 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, Virginia has narrowed from about 27% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 3% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $65 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Nelson County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.1% | 18.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 31 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 223 people are unemployed in Nelson County, Virginia.
The average commute time in Nelson County is 31 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Nelson County, Virginia has fallen from 5.7% to 3.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.1% in 2020.
Nelson County, VA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Nelson County, VA is the smallest of the 4 counties compared here, 14,732 residents against a local median of 31,478. Nelson County, VA's unemployment, at 3.3%, runs 29% below the 4.6% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.3% on unemployment, so Nelson County, VA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Nelson County, VA has the lowest unemployment of the 4 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, VA | 14,732 | $74,353 #2/4 | 4.8%/yr #2/4 | 3.3% #1/4 | 0.531 #2/4 |
| Amherst County, VA | 31,478 | $67,755 | 4.7%/yr | 4.6% | 0.518 |
| Albemarle County, VA | 114,898 | $104,612 | 5.2%/yr | 3.4% | 0.533 |
| Buckingham County, VA | 16,972 | $61,152 | 4.5%/yr | 4.7% | 0.582 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Nelson County, Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Virginia, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Nelson County, Virginia.
How Rich Is Nelson County, Virginia?
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 $74,353, about 21% lower than the Virginia average of $93,527.
How has median household income changed in Nelson County, Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Nelson County, Virginia rose 67%, from $44,410 to $74,353. Over the same years, income here outpaced Virginia as a whole: +67% against +55%.
What was the median household income in Nelson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Nelson County, Virginia was $71,389, up 8% from $66,181 in 2022. The Virginia median that year was $91,420.
What was the median household income in Nelson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Nelson County, Virginia was $61,981. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $74,353.
What is the Gini coefficient in Nelson County, Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Nelson County is 0.531. 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, Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Nelson County, Virginia has narrowed from about 27% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 3% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $65 since 2009.
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