Nelson, MN

Full City Profile · Minnesota · Douglas County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
113 Population 171/sq mi density
$52,708 Median Income $32,851 per capita
$156,700 Home Value $319,385 Zillow
$917 Median Rent 43.9% income on rent
43°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$52,708 median income, 0.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$156,700 home value, $917/mo rent
D
Education
1.8 / 5.0
10.6% bachelor's degree or higher

Nelson, MN

At a Glance

Median Income
$52,708
30% below
$32,851 per capita
Home Value
$156,700
44% below
Zillow: $319,385
Median Rent
$917/mo
21% below
43.9% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
10.6%
69% below
98.8% high school+
Unemployment
0.0%
100% below
0.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.1%
6% above
13.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
43°F

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)

Income
70%
Home Value
56%
Rent
79%
Poverty
0%
Bachelor's
31%
Unemployment
0%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Nelson a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.6 / 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 $52,708 , which is 30% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $32,851. The unemployment rate stands at 0.0% (100% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 0.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,499 business establishments, including 124 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Nelson is $156,700 , 44% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $319,385. Median rent is $917/month, with 43.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 98.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1974.

Education

10.6% of adults in Nelson hold a bachelor's degree or higher (69% below the national average). 98.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.9/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Nelson has an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C). Winters average 11°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 24.1 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population113
Median Age47.8 yrs
Density171/mi²
Male / Female57% / 43%
Foreign Born0.0%
Veterans8.6%

Economy

A
Median Income$52,708
Per Capita$32,851
Unemployment0.0%
Poverty0.0%
County GDP$2,860M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,097

Housing

A+
Home Value$156,700
Rent$917
Ownership50.8%
Zillow$319,385
Housing Units55
Rent Burden43.9%

Health

Obesity34.1%
Diabetes8.1%
Smoking13.2%
Heart Disease5.0%
Premature Death6,113/100K

Climate

Avg Temp43°F
Rain24.1 in/yr
Elevation1,366 ft

Education

D
Bachelor's+10.6%
High School+98.8%
Graduate+1.6%
School Score6.9/10

Community

2024 VoteR 67% / D 32%
Commute29 min
Broadband86.2%
Internet Speed170 Mbps
EV Stations9
Libraries1

Did You Know?

The median home in Nelson was built in 1974.
The nearest airport is St Cloud Regional (63 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.438 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
17.7% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 170 Mbps.
There are 124 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 4 fatal vehicle crashes.