At a Glance
Median Income
$54,408
$37,190 per capita
Home Value
$72,900
Zillow: $74,164
Median Rent
$620/mo
23.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
18.8%
90.6% high school+
Unemployment
0.0%
1.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
42.4%
13.8% 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+
3.9 / 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 $54,408 , which is 28% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $37,190. The unemployment rate stands at 0.0% (100% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 1.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 187 business establishments, including 10 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Nelson is $72,900 , 74% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $74,164. Median rent is $620/month, with 23.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 90.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1943.
Education
18.8% of adults in Nelson hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(44% below the national average).
90.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Nelson has an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C).
Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 28.0 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population478
Median Age58.4 yrs
Density583/mi²
Male / Female49% / 52%
Foreign Born1.7%
Veterans10.7%
Economy
A
Median Income$54,408
Per Capita$37,190
Unemployment0.0%
Poverty1.4%
County GDP$384M
Avg Weekly Wage$816
Housing
A+
Home Value$72,900
Rent$620
Ownership89.0%
Zillow$74,164
Housing Units268
Rent Burden23.3%
Health
Obesity42.4%
Diabetes8.7%
Smoking13.8%
Heart Disease5.1%
Premature Death8,331/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Rain28.0 in/yr
Elevation1,701 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+18.8%
High School+90.6%
Graduate+3.8%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 81% / D 18%
Commute23 min
Broadband85.3%
Internet Speed40 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries2
Did You Know?
The median home in Nelson was built in 1943.
The nearest airport is Central Nebraska Regional (54 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.469 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
17.5% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.