Nelson County, North Dakota Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Nelson County, North Dakota, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Nelson County, North Dakota. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Nelson County, North Dakota. The estimated population of Nelson County, North Dakota is 3,035 people, with a median age of 49.6.

We can look at the total population in Nelson County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
3,035
+5.97%
+2.15%
2020
2,864
 -1.04% -
2019
2,894
 -0.89% -
2018
2,920
 -1.72% -
2017
2,971
 - -

Population of Nelson County, North Dakota by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
91.7%
96.7%
 -5.17%
Black/African American
0.4%
0%
 0.00%
Native
0.2%
0.3%
 -33.33%
Hispanic
3.9%
2.5%
 +56.00%
Asian
1.1%
0%
 0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.7%
0.4%
 +575.00%
Other
0.1%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Nelson County, North Dakota by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 49.6 -4.98% 49.8 +1.22% 49.5 -8.33%
2020 52.2 -0.38% 49.2 -2.96% 54 +2.27%
2019 52.4 -0.95% 50.7 -2.87% 52.8 -0.75%
2018 52.9 +0.76% 52.2 +2.35% 53.2 +0.57%
2017 52.5 - 51 - 52.9 -

The median age of Nelson County, North Dakota gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 145 +28.88% 163 +32.26% 185 217
10 to 19 136 0.45% 104 +37.18% 134 146
20 to 29 189 -23.9% 117 +26.11% 147 140
30 to 39 143 +25.08% 142 +7.29% 167 149
40 to 49 149 -17.44% 132 -4.9% 124 125
50 to 59 237 -4.39% 247 -17.36% 223 204
60 to 69 261 1.84% 209 +13.6% 261 237
70+ 270 -2.59% 327 -3.86% 262 314

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Nelson County, North Dakota is $56,724.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Nelson County.

  • Under 25
    $32,679.00
  • 25 to 44
    $76,500.00
  • 45 to 64
    $64,125.00
  • 65 and over
    $33,333.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Nelson County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Nelson County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Nelson County, North Dakota is currently $71,427.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

3.72% of households in Nelson County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Nelson County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    24.73%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    19.58%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    18.59%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    15.55%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    13.81%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    4.02%
  • $200,000 or more
    3.72%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Nelson County is $33,392.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Nelson County by the total population of Nelson County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Nelson County, North Dakota, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Nelson County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    6.58%
  • Bachelor's degree
    33.47%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    11.05%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    46.63%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.27%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Nelson County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Nelson County over the age of 16 is 2,493.

Of those people, a total of 58.70% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Nelson County is 58.00%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 140 30.00% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 129 74.40% 1.00%
25 to 29 years 158 84.20% 9.00%
30 to 34 years 144 85.40% 0.00%
35 to 44 years 281 91.80% 0.00%
45 to 54 years 304 79.90% 0.00%
55 to 59 years 263 78.70% 0.00%
60 to 64 years 287 63.10% 1.70%
65 to 74 years 421 39.00% 0.00%
75 years and over 366 4.60% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Nelson County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 2,348 58.50% 0.40%
Black or African American 11 100.00% 100.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 5 0.00% 0.00%
Asian 33 100.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 28 67.90% 0.00%
Two or more races 68 41.20% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 84 59.50% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 2,315 58.40% 0.40%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Nelson County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Nelson County is 1,447, with median earnings of $40,329.00.

Women in Nelson County, North Dakota earning approximately 68.40% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 1,447 $40,329.00
Male 831 $46,964.00
Female 616 $32,119.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 289 $56,750.00
Business and Financial 75 $43,456.00
Computer and Mathematical 8 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 6 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 1 $0.00
Community and Social Service 9 $32,083.00
Legal 15 $0.00
Educational and Library 106 $47,857.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 23 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 80 $53,864.00
Healthcare Support 56 $30,682.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 14 $0.00
Law Enforcement 17 $39,271.00
Food Preparation and Serving 55 $12,813.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 52 $22,500.00
Personal Care and Service 28 $26,250.00
Sales 149 $34,659.00
Office and Administrative Support 132 $30,962.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 92 $34,914.00
Construction and Extraction 67 $43,393.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 45 $55,208.00
Production 33 $39,750.00
Transportation and Material Moving 60 $45,909.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 236 $56,000.00 53 $62,917.00
Business and Financial 40 $44,808.00 35 $29,196.00
Computer and Mathematical 8 $0.00 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 6 $0.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 1 $0.00 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 1 $0.00 8 $31,667.00
Legal 2 $0.00 13 $0.00
Educational and Library 17 $58,750.00 89 $47,679.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 11 $0.00 12 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1 $0.00 79 $53,977.00
Healthcare Support 7 $31,250.00 49 $30,515.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 14 $0.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 17 $39,271.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 0 $0.00 55 $12,813.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 40 $19,091.00 12 $31,071.00
Personal Care and Service 6 $0.00 22 $25,625.00
Sales 82 $60,476.00 67 $26,696.00
Office and Administrative Support 48 $23,906.00 84 $37,143.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 70 $37,500.00 22 $13,750.00
Construction and Extraction 67 $43,393.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 45 $55,208.00 0 $0.00
Production 23 $39,250.00 10 $45,417.00
Transportation and Material Moving 56 $46,364.00 4 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 1,318 households in Nelson County, with an average household size of 2.25 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 740 families in Nelson County with an average family size of 3.08 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 649 35 56 578
Average Household Size 3.06 4.31 3.3 1.12
Total Families 649 35 56 0
Average Household Size 3.06 3.49 3.07 0

Poverty

Of the 740 families in Nelson County, 5.70% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Nelson County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 1,820 housing units in Nelson County, North Dakota.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 1,318 72.42%
Vacant 502 27.58%

12.80% of the total 1,820 housing units in Nelson County are rental units. This is approximately 233 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 996 are occupied by the owner - or 54.73% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Nelson County is $542.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Nelson County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    89
  • Less than $500
    109
  • $500 to $999
    79
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    25
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    12
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    6
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    2
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Nelson County is $99,300.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Nelson County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    183
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    320
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    231
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    63
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    125
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    58
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    16
  • $1,000,000 or more
    0

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Nelson County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Nelson County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    427
  • 1940 to 1949
    181
  • 1950 to 1959
    239
  • 1960 to 1969
    297
  • 1970 to 1979
    328
  • 1980 to 1989
    143
  • 1990 to 1999
    100
  • 2000 to 2009
    42
  • 2010 to 2013
    62
  • 2014 or later
    1

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Nelson County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    35
  • 1 vehicle available
    404
  • 2 vehicles available
    425
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    454

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Nelson County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Nelson County that commute to work in a particular way.

18.2 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Nelson County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    254
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    309
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    171
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    129
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    90
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    19
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    150
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    35
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    27
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    77
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    54
  • 90 or more minutes
    16

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Nelson County, North Dakota in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Nelson County, North Dakota

We have data for 28 places in Nelson County, North Dakota. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.