At a Glance
Median Income
$45,938
$28,121 per capita
Home Value
$71,300
Zillow: $139,801
Median Rent
$600/mo
32.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
13.4%
76.3% high school+
Unemployment
8.1%
9.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.4%
15.0% smoking rate
How Nelson Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Nelson's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Nelson a Good Place to Live?
B
3.3 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Nelson residents earn a median household income of $45,938 , which is 39% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $28,121. The unemployment rate stands at 8.1% (125% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,185 business establishments, including 132 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Nelson is $71,300 , 75% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $139,801. Median rent is $600/month, with 32.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1950.
Education
13.4% of adults in Nelson hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(60% below the national average).
76.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Nelson has an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C).
Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 39.3 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population114
Median Age54.0 yrs
Density317/mi²
Male / Female31% / 69%
Foreign Born8.8%
Veterans9.0%
Economy
C+
Median Income$45,938
Per Capita$28,121
Unemployment8.1%
Poverty9.4%
County GDP$2,978M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,042
Housing
A+
Home Value$71,300
Rent$600
Ownership84.3%
Zillow$139,801
Housing Units71
Rent Burden32.3%
Health
Obesity37.4%
Diabetes9.3%
Smoking15.0%
Heart Disease5.3%
Premature Death9,513/100K
Climate
Avg Temp49°F
Rain39.3 in/yr
Elevation651 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+13.4%
High School+76.3%
Graduate+6.3%
School Score5.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 56% / D 42%
Commute23 min
Broadband92.2%
Internet Speed80 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries6
Did You Know?
The median home in Nelson was built in 1950.
The nearest airport is Chicago/Rockford International (38 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.444 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
26.3% of the population has a disability.
There are 132 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 13 fatal vehicle crashes.