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Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson Region · New Zealand
Nelson is a mid-size city in Nelson Region, New Zealand with a population of 54,400. Elevation: 36 ft (11 m). Average temperature: 51°F (11°C).
Discover Nelson, New Zealand
Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
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People
Economy
BHousing
AClimate
| Population | 54,400 |
| Population Density | 317 / sq mi |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Coordinates | -41.2708°, 173.2840° |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
| Country | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
| State / Province | Nelson Region |
| Average Temperature | 51°F (11°C) |
| January Average | 59°F (15°C) |
| July Average | 43°F (6°C) |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.8 inches (1,291 mm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.1 inches (8 cm) |
| Median Household Income | $22,260 |
| Median Age | 44.3 years |
About Nelson
Nelson is a mid-size city in New Zealand (Nelson Region) with a population of 54,400. The city sits at an elevation of 36 feet (11 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 51°F (11°C). Temperatures range from 59°F in January to 43°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.8 inches. The timezone is Pacific/Auckland.
Population
Language Spoken at Home
Social Characteristics
Nelson vs New Zealand Average
Income: Nelson vs New Zealand
Commute Mode
Income
| Median HH Income | $22,260 |
| 70% below New Zealand avg | |
| Per Capita Income | $22,260 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $428 |
Employment & Poverty
| Unemployment | 2.8% |
| 22% below New Zealand avg | |
| Establishments (County) | 5,005 |
Business (County)
Tax & Cost of Living
Commute & Transportation
Walkability
Home Value Sources
Ownership Split
Home Values
| Census Median | $104,000 |
| 63% below New Zealand avg |
Real Estate Market (Redfin)
Rental Costs
| Census Median Rent | $520 |
| 55% below New Zealand avg |
Ownership & Property
| Homeownership | 73.8% |
| Owner-Occupied | 73.8% |
| Renter-Occupied | 26.2% |
| Housing Units | 21,760 |
Property Tax
Climate in Nelson
Nelson has an average annual temperature of 10.6°C (51°F). The hottest month is Jan (16.6°C), the coldest is Jul (5.5°C). Average annual precipitation is 1166 mm.
Temperature
| Annual Average | 50.9°F |
| 6% below New Zealand avg | |
| January Average | 59°F (15°C) |
| July Average | 43°F (6°C) |
| Sunny Days | 276 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Area | 171.8 sq mi (445.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 317/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -41.2708°N, 173.2840°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 11.0 m (36 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1855 | NORTHERN ISLAND | Earthquake | 11.0 m | — | 143 km |
| 1868 | NEW ZEALAND | Earthquake | 3.0 m | — | 121 km |
| 2013 | WELLINGTON | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 89 km |
| 2013 | COOK STRAIT | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 100 km |
| 1855 | WHARANUI | Earthquake | — | — | 99 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59°F (15°C) | 3.9 in | |
| February | 62°F (17°C) | 2.7 in | Warmest, Driest |
| March | 60°F (16°C) | 4.0 in | |
| April | 55°F (13°C) | 4.8 in | |
| May | 50°F (10°C) | 4.4 in | |
| June | 46°F (8°C) | 4.3 in | |
| July | 43°F (6°C) | 5.0 in | Coldest |
| August | 46°F (8°C) | 5.7 in | Wettest |
| September | 49°F (10°C) | 4.3 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 in | |
| November | 56°F (13°C) | 4.3 in | |
| December | 60°F (15°C) | 4.0 in |
Nelson has a seasonal temperature swing of 20°F / from 43°F in July to 62°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 52.5 inches, with August being the wettest month (5.7") and February the driest (2.7").
Colleges & Universities in Nelson
| Institution | Type | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology | College | — | — |
| NMIT Richmond Campus | College | — | Visit → |
Schools in Nelson
4 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Joseph's School | — | — | — | — |
| Nelson Central School | — | — | — | — |
| Auckland Point School | — | — | — | — |
| Maitai School | — | — | — | — |
Radio Stations near Nelson
2 stations within ~55 km.
| Station | Genre | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian FM 105.6 Nelson NZ | — | AAC 128 kbps | |
| BeachFM 106.3 | 00s, 60s | MP3 192 kbps |
Museums in Nelson
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founders Heritage Park | ||||
| Maritime museum | ||||
| Nelson Classic Car Museum | ||||
| Nelson Provincial Museum | ||||
| Port Museum |
Libraries in Nelson
| Name | Address | Staff | Annual Visits | Circulation | Collection | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elma Turner Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Mapua Community Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Mapua Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Nightingale Library Tāhunanui | 0.0 | |||||
| Richmond Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Stoke Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Wakefield Library | 0.0 |
Farmers Markets in Nelson
| Name | Address | Season | Hours | Organic | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Farmers Market | |||||
| The Nelson Market |
Hotels in Nelson
9 hotels within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Restaurants in Nelson
58 restaurants within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Cafes in Nelson
38 cafes within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Cinemas in Nelson
1 cinemas within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Theatres in Nelson
3 theatres within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Monuments in Nelson
2 monuments within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Clinics in Nelson
8 clinics within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Dentists in Nelson
9 dentists within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Train Stations in Nelson
3 train stations within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Gas Stations in Nelson
3 gas stations within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Banks in Nelson
9 banks within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Golf Courses in Nelson
2 golf courses within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Breweries in Nelson
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Thumbs Brewery |
Stadiums & Teams in Nelson
| Team | League | Division |
|---|---|---|
Ski Resorts Near Nelson
1 ski resorts within range.
| Resort | Slopes (km) | Lifts | Peak (m) | Price | Season | Night | Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Ski Area | 0.0 | — | — | $0 | — | — | — |
Airports Near Nelson
7 airports within the area.
| Airport | IATA | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Nelson Airport | NSN | Medium Airport |
| Woodbourne Airport | BHE | Medium Airport |
| Lake Station Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Motueka Airport | MZP | Small Airport |
| Omaka Blenheim Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Picton Aerodrome | PCN | Small Airport |
| Takaka Airport | KTF | Small Airport |
Post Offices in Nelson
2 post offices.
| Post Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Mailboxes + Parcel Collection | |
| Nelson Post Office |
Churches & Religious Organizations in Nelson
17 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| All Saints Anglican Church | |
| Aspire Church | |
| Christ Church Cathedral | |
| Garin Memorial Chapel | |
| Impact Christian Church Assembly of God | |
| Masonic Temple | |
| Nelson Baptist Church | |
| Nelson Islamic Cultural Society (NICS) | |
| Old St Peter's | |
| Saint Johns in the City | |
| Saint Mary's Parish | |
| The Anglican Centre | |
| The Haven Seventh-Day Adventist Church | |
| The Mission Fellowship | |
| The Salvation Army Nelson Tasman Bays | |
| Trinity Presbyterian Church | |
| Unite Church |
Quick Facts
🇳🇿 About New Zealand
Public Holidays in New Zealand
23 public holidays this year
Frequently Asked Questions About Nelson
What is the population of Nelson?
Nelson has a population of 54,400 residents and is located in New Zealand. The population density is 317 people per square mile, spread across 171.8 square miles. The median age of residents is 44.3 years, which is older than the national median of 38.9 years.
Is Nelson expensive to live in?
The median household income is $22,260, 70% below the national average of $75,149. The median home value is $104,000 (63% below the U.S. median). Renters pay a median of $520 per month, below the national average of $1,163. The home price-to-income ratio is 4.7x, indicating housing is reasonably affordable relative to local income levels.
What is the weather like in Nelson?
Nelson has a four-season climate with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winter temperatures average 59°F in January, while summers reach an average of 43°F in July. The area receives 276 sunny days per year, well above the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 50.8 inches, with 3.1 inches of snow.
How is the job market in Nelson?
The job market in Nelson is very strong, with unemployment at just 2.8% / well below the national rate of 3.6%. The average weekly wage is $428. There are 5,005 business establishments in the area.
How much does housing cost in Nelson?
The median home value in Nelson is $104,000. For renters, the median monthly rent is $520. The homeownership rate is 73.8%.