Nelson County, North Dakota

County in ND, US

By Neilsberg Research

Last updated May 1, 2026

Key Indicators

A quick look at key numbers

Population

3,016

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates

Median Age

50.1

years ∙ half population younger than 50.1, half older

Diversity Index

15.9%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Nativity

foreign-born population

97%Native

3% Foreign-born

Geographic Context

Location, size, and surroundings

About

Nelson County is a county in North Dakota, United States.

Location

County in ND, US

Co-ordinates

DEC47.918667° N, 98.204428° W

DMS47° 55′ 07.20″ N, 98° 12′ 15.94″ W

Population Density & area

3.07/sq mi (1.19/km²)

Total Area

1,009 sq mi (2,613 km²)

Land Area

982 sq mi (2,543 km²) · 97.3%

Water Area

27 sq mi (70 km²) · 2.7%

Demographics & Living

Who lives here, how households are formed, and community composition

Population Composition

Key characteristics of the population

Sex Distribution

50.6% male

Male 50.6%

Female 49.4%

males per 100 females

Nelson County 102.6

North Dakota 105.1

United States 98

Nativity

foreign-born population

97%Native

3% Foreign-born

% Foreign-born

Nelson County 3%

North Dakota 4.7%

United States 14.1%

Age Distribution

How the population is spread across age groups

Median Age

50.1

years ∙ half population younger than 50.1, half older

Nelson County

50.1

North Dakota

35.9

United States

38.9

Dependency ratio

96.1

dependents per 100 working-age adults

Nelson County 96.1

North Dakota 66.8

United States 64.4

AGE DISTRIBUTION

Distribution of age group

Median age

	Nelson County	North Dakota	United States
Age Group
Children (Under 18)	20.7%	23.5%	22%
Working age (18-64)	51%	60%	60.8%
Senior (65+)	28.3%	16.5%	17.2%
Dependency ratio
Total dependency ratio	96.1	66.8	64.4
Child dependency ratio	40.6	39.2	36.1
Old-age dependency ratio	55.5	27.6	28.3

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic makeup and how it compares

Race & Ethnicity

White

91.6%

Black

0.5%

Asian

0.7%

Hispanic

Other

4.2%

Note: White, Black, and Asian refer to individuals belonging to a single race and not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics may be of any race.

Diversity Index

15.9%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Nelson County 15.9%

North Dakota 32.6%

United States 61.4%

Note: The Diversity Index (DI), based on the Blau Index, measures the probability that two randomly selected individuals differ in race and ethnicity. Values range from 0 (no diversity) to 1 (high diversity) and are shown as percentages.

RACIAL & ETHNIC COMPOSITION

Race & Ethnicity

Percentage of Nelson County population

	Nelson County	North Dakota	United States
Hispanic or Latino	3%	4.7%	19.3%
Mexican	2.1%	2.8%	11.3%
Puerto Rican	0%	0.5%	1.8%
Cuban	0.1%	0.1%	0.8%
Other Hispanic / Latino	0.8%	1.2%	5.5%
Not Hispanic or Latino	97%	95.3%	80.7%
One race	94%	91.3%	76.4%
White	91.6%	81.7%	57.4%
Black or African American	0.5%	3.3%	11.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native	1%	4.2%	0.5%
Asian	0.7%	1.6%	5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	0%	0.1%	0.2%
Some Other Race	0.3%	0.3%	0.6%
Two or more races (Multiracial)	3%	4%	4.3%

Household & Families Composition

Household size, type, and family structure

Household structure

59.9% family

Family 59.9%

Non family 40.1%

% family households

Nelson County 59.9%

North Dakota 57.3%

United States 64.2%

Average household size

2.17

persons per household

Nelson County

2.17

North Dakota

2.28

United States

2.53

Household & Family COMPOSITION

Households

Percentage of Nelson County population

	Nelson County	North Dakota	United States
Total households	1,338	331,063	129,227,496
Average houshold size	2.17	2.28	2.53
Family households	802	189,842	82,990,528
Average family size	2.85	3	3.14
Married couple family	721	151,685	60,637,388
Other families	81	38,157	22,353,140
Male householder	16	13,926	6,572,819
Female householder	65	24,231	15,780,321
Non-family households	536	141,221	46,236,968
One-person households	499	114,955	37,140,836
Male householder	290	61,956	16,871,444
Senior (65+) living alone	99	15,355	5,225,110
Female householder	209	52,999	20,269,392
Senior (65+) living alone	122	25,603	10,089,070
Other living arrangements	37	26,266	9,096,132

Housing Profile

Housing stock, ownership, rentals, and cost burdens

Total housing units

1,783

housing units

Nelson County 1,783

North Dakota 377,281

United States 143,775,355

Occupancy status

75% occupied

Occupied 75%

Vacant 25%

vacancy rate

Nelson County 25%

North Dakota 12.3%

United States 10.1%

Housing Characteristics

How the housing supply is structured and used

Types of Housing unit

83.5%

Single family houses

83.5%

Apartments in multi-unit structures

12.8%

Mobile homes

3.8%

Boat, RV, van, etc

Median Year Built

1961

Half of houses were built before 1961, and half after.

Historic ∙ 1939 or earlier

26.9%

Postwar & mid-century ∙ 1940 - 1969

33.1%

Late 20th century ∙ 1970 - 1999

29.7%

Modern ∙ 2000 or later

10.4%

Note: Median year built reflects occupied units only; distribution includes all units.

Housing Characteristics

Units, rooms & bedrooms

Physical characteristics of housing units

	Nelson County	North Dakota	United States
Rooms per unit
Median rooms	6.4	5.7	5.5
1–3 rooms	8.3%	15.7%	15.1%
4–6 rooms	42.6%	44.8%	51.6%
7+ rooms	49.1%	39.4%	33.4%
Bedrooms
No bedroom / studio	0.5%	3.2%	2.9%
1 bedroom	6%	9.7%	10.9%
2 bedrooms	29.8%	27.9%	25%
3 bedrooms	33.5%	31.5%	38.7%
4+ bedrooms	30.3%	27.9%	22.4%
At a glance
Median year built	1961	1983	1981
Total housing units	1,783	377,281	143,775,355

Occupancy Profile

Who is inside and how they use it

Homeownership

75.1% owners

Renter-occupied 24.9%

Owner-occupied 75.1%

homeownership rate

Nelson County 75.1%

North Dakota 62.9%

United States 65.2%

Average household size

2.24

Owner-occupied

1.93

Renter-occupied

owner-occupied average size

Nelson County 2.24

North Dakota 2.5

United States 2.64

Housing Characteristics

Occupied unit characteristics

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Nelson County	North Dakota	United States
Total occupied units	1,338	331,063	129,227,496
Year moved in
2020 or later	16%	28.1%	24.8%
2010 to 2019	41.4%	39.7%	39.6%
2000 to 2009	14.4%	13.8%	16.4%
1999 or earlier	28.2%	18.4%	19.1%
Occupants per room
1.00 or fewer	99.2%	97.8%	96.6%
1.01 to 1.50	0.7%	1.5%	2.2%
1.51 or more	0.1%	0.8%	1.2%
Vehicles availability
No vehicles	3.1%	5.9%	8.4%
1 vehicle	25.1%	30.1%	33.1%
2 vehicles	34.9%	37.2%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	36.8%	26.8%	21.9%
House heating fuel used
Gas	43.3%	54.8%	51.4%
Electricity	47.9%	40%	41.3%
Solar	0%	0%	0.3%
Fuel oil, kerosene etc	7.5%	1.9%	3.9%
All other fuels	1.2%	2%	2%
No fuel used	0.1%	1.3%	1.2%
Selected characteristics
Lacking complete plumbing	0.1%	0.4%	0.4%
Lacking complete kitchen	0.4%	0.6%	0.8%
No telephone service available	0.9%	0.9%	0.9%

Housing Value

What owner-occupied units are worth

Median home value

$139,700

owner-occupied units

Median value(USD)

Nelson County

$139,700

North Dakota

$249,900

United States

$332,700

Housing Cost Burden

15.7%

of homeowners with a mortgage are cost-burdened

% Cost-Burdened Households

Owners with a mortgage

15.7%

Owners without a mortgage

12.9%

Renters

20.4%

Note: Households spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs are considered cost-burdened.

Financial characteristics

Property value and housing costs

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Nelson County	North Dakota	United States
Property value
Median Value	$139,700	$249,900	$332,700
Under $100,000	34.2%	16.3%	11.4%
$100,000 - $200,000	32.7%	19.6%	15.8%
$200,000 - $300,000	17.2%	25.6%	17.8%
$300,000 - $500,000	10.1%	27.4%	26.9%
$500,000 - $1,000,000	5.7%	9.7%	20.9%
$1,000,000 and more	0%	1.3%	7.1%
Owner-occupied households
With a mortgage	34.8%	52.3%	60.6%
Without a mortgage	65.2%	47.7%	39.4%
Median monthly owner costs
With a mortgage	$1,351	$1,762	$1,963
Without a mortgage	$493	$590	$638
Gross rent
Median rent	$582	$954	$1,413

Education Profile

How educated is the community and how education pays off

Adults with a college degree

29.4%

of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

Nelson County 29.4%

North Dakota 32.7%

United States 35.7%

Adults without a high school diploma

6.9%

of adults (25+) without a high school diploma

Nelson County 6.9%

North Dakota 5.9%

United States 10.4%

School Enrollment

Who is enrolled in school and at what level

School enrollment

618

population (age 3+) enrolled in school

Nursery / Preschool

8.7%

K–12

76.7%

College / Undergraduate

12.1%

Graduate / Professional

2.4%

College-going rate (18-24 yr olds)

23.2%

of 18-24-year-olds in college or graduate school

Nelson County

23.2%

North Dakota

45.2%

United States

40.9%

Enrollment & school type

Enrollment levels, college-going rate, and public vs private school split

Population 3+ currently enrolled in a school

	Nelson County	North Dakota	United States
Total enrolled (age 3+)	618	198,150	80,089,790
Nursery / preschool	8.7%	4.9%	5.7%
K–12	76.7%	65%	67.6%
Kindergarten	7.8%	4.8%	5%
Elementary: Grades 1–4	24.4%	20.3%	19.8%
Elementary: Grades 5–8	22.7%	21%	21%
High School: Grades 9–12	21.8%	18.9%	21.7%
College or graduate school	14.6%	30.1%	26.7%
College, undergraduate	12.1%	24%	21%
Graduate, professional school	2.4%	6.1%	5.8%
College-going rate · 18-24 yr olds	23.2%	45.2%	40.9%
School type
Public school	91.9%	87.1%	82%
Private school	8.1%	12.9%	18%

Education Attainment by Level & Gender

What is the highest level of education completed among adults

Education attainment

2,253

population 25 years and over

Total adults (25+)

Less than 9th grade

1.4%

9th-12th, no diploma

5.5%

HS graduate

24.8%

Some college no degree

22%

Associates degree

17%

Bachelors degree

22.8%

Graduate or professional degree

6.7%

Attainment by gender

Male vs Female

Adults (25+) · Share within each education level

% male · % female

Less than 9th grade

28.1% · 71.9%

9th-12th, no diploma

52.8% · 47.2%

HS graduate

59.1% · 40.9%

Some college no degree

45.7% · 54.3%

Associates degree

53.4% · 46.6%

Bachelors degree

53.6% · 46.4%

Graduate or professional degree

55.3% · 44.7%

Educational Attainment Overview

Distribution and key education attainment rates for adults (25+)

Highest credential completed · adults 25+

	Nelson County	North Dakota	United States
Population (25+)	2,253	513,405	230,807,303
Less than 9th grade	1.4%	2.3%	4.7%
9th–12th, no diploma	5.5%	3.6%	5.7%
High school diploma or GED	24.8%	25.5%	26%
Some college, no degree	22%	21.8%	19.1%
Associate's degree	17%	14%	8.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	29.4%	32.7%	35.7%
Bachelor's degree	22.8%	23%	21.6%
Graduate or professional	6.7%	9.7%	14.1%
High School or higher	93.1%	94%	89.6%

Earnings by education level

percentage as applicable

Median Earnings

$51,167

Median earnings for adults 25+, by level

Less than HS graduate

$68,750

HS graduate

$44,375

Some college or associates

$50,893

Bachelors degree

$54,450

Graduate or professional degree

$48,750

Poverty Rate

4.2%

for ages 25+, with bachelors degree or higher

Less than HS graduate

5.3%

HS graduate

7.3%

Some college or associates

5.4%

Bachelors degree or higher

4.2%

Outcomes by Education Level

Earnings and poverty rates across education levels (25+)

Adults 25+

	Nelson County	North Dakota	United States
Median earnings
Population 25+, with earnings	$51,167	$52,900	$52,696
Less than high school graduate	$68,750	$40,757	$32,485
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	$44,375	$43,691	$40,153
Some college or associate's degree	$50,893	$50,379	$47,260
Bachelor's degree	$54,450	$60,962	$70,044
Graduate or professional degree	$48,750	$74,877	$90,720
Poverty rates
Less than high school graduate	5.3%	21.4%	24.2%
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	7.3%	12.9%	14.4%
Some college or associate's degree	5.4%	7.9%	9.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	4.2%	4%	4.5%

Insights for Nelson County, by topic

Income By year By race By age By gender

Population By year By race By age By gender

About Neilsberg Research

Neilsberg Research team are data scientists with expertise in processing, analysis and visualization of big data helping small businesses make right decisions.

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