Population 47,606 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Nelson County
Household size in Nelson County
| Period | Nelson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.51 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.63 | 2.55 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.50 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Nelson County run small, averaging 2.48 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.58 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Nelson County
| Period | Nelson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 38.5 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.4 | 39.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.6 | 40.0 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 40.2 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +1.7 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
At 40.7, the median age in Nelson County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 37.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Nelson County
| Period | Nelson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 12.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 12.6% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 11.6% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 12.4% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.2 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Nelson County (11.4%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Nelson County
Renters in Nelson County
| Period | Nelson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.1% | 30.5% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.3% | 32.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.0% | 32.5% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 31.1% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nelson County is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 40.3% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Nelson County
| Period | Nelson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 9.8% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 9.8% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 9.8% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 7.9% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Nelson County: 6.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.8 points, in line with the national trend. Only four of Kentucky's 120 counties have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Nelson County
| Period | Nelson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1975 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1976 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1976 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1980 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Nelson County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, only nine have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Nelson County
| Period | Nelson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $664 | $769 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $728 | $826 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $787 | $928 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $974 | $1,200 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$309 | +$431 | +$367 | +$606 |
The median renter in Nelson County pays $974 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $309 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.4% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Nelson County
Bachelor's degrees in Nelson County
| Period | Nelson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 24.9% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.2% | 26.7% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.1% | 29.0% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 32.8% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.3 pts | +7.9 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Nelson County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 23.5%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.3 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the southwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Nelson County
| Period | Nelson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.2% | 86.4% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.0% | 87.8% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.8% | 90.1% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.2% | 91.1% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +4.7 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Nelson County have finished high school (92.2%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 8.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, only 11 have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Nelson County
| Period | Nelson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 9.1% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 5.2% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.8% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −3.6 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Nelson County runs below the national rate: 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 3.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Nelson County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County | 2.48 | 40.7 | 11.4% | 21.7% | 6.6% | 1991 | $974 | 23.5% | 92.2% | 3.5% |
| Washington County | 2.47 | 41.5 | 11.2% | 22.4% | 8.0% | 1982 | $776 | 19.3% | 89.2% | 3.2% |
| Hardin County | 2.53 | 38.3 | 13.3% | 37.4% | 9.6% | 1987 | $1,028 | 25.7% | 93.0% | 5.9% |
| Mercer County | 2.53 | 42.6 | 7.4% | 24.1% | 13.1% | 1981 | $830 | 24.8% | 92.0% | 4.5% |
| Meade County | 2.77 | 40.5 | 10.4% | 25.9% | 10.5% | 1990 | $997 | 20.2% | 91.0% | 5.8% |
| Jessamine County | 2.74 | 38.2 | 11.2% | 33.3% | 7.8% | 1993 | $1,239 | 33.7% | 90.7% | 3.0% |
| Breckinridge County | 2.64 | 42.0 | 10.2% | 18.6% | 21.4% | 1988 | $751 | 13.7% | 85.5% | 4.4% |
| Madison County | 2.48 | 36.8 | 10.7% | 38.0% | 9.2% | 1993 | $905 | 33.4% | 91.4% | 4.3% |
| Clark County | 2.51 | 41.1 | 11.9% | 29.3% | 8.9% | 1980 | $959 | 22.5% | 88.8% | 4.7% |
| Hancock County | 2.52 | 41.4 | 14.5% | 22.8% | 6.9% | 1983 | $737 | 17.3% | 87.5% | 4.8% |
| Estill County | 2.34 | 44.6 | 14.0% | 29.6% | 13.6% | 1980 | $704 | 12.2% | 78.5% | 7.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Chisago County, MN · Warren County, IA · Dearborn County, IN · Darke County, OH · Washington County, OK · Culpeper County, VA · Washington Parish, LA · Columbus County, NC · Coffee County, AL · Windham County, VT
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Nelson County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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