Population 192 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Nelson
Household size in Nelson
| Period | Nelson | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Nelson is a place of small households, averaging 2.25 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.38, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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
| Period | Nelson | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.6 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.1 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.1 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
Nelson skews older: half of its residents are older than 52.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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
| Period | Nelson | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Nelson: 6.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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
Renters in Nelson
| Period | Nelson | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.7% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.3% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.7% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.7% of households in Nelson rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly two-thirds of owners (64.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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
| Period | Nelson | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 25.0% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.9% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Nelson: 17.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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
| Period | Nelson | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Nelson are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1978, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Kentucky as a whole, where the median home dates to 1982.
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
| Period | Nelson | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $444 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $549 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $549 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $679 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$235 | +$367 | +$606 |
Rent in Nelson runs $679 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 45.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Nelson
| Period | Nelson | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | – | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 2.9% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Nelson have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 4.6%, against 35.6% nationally.
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
| Period | Nelson | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.1% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 70.7% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 67.1% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 59.0% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | −11.1 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About four in ten adults in Nelson never finished high school, well above the national share: only 59.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
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
| Period | Nelson | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 21.0% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Nelson is close to the national rate: 5.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. 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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson | 2.25 | 52.1 | 6.9% | 24.7% | 17.9% | 1978 | $679 | 4.6% | 59.0% | 5.0% |
| Martwick | 2.25 | 52.1 | 6.9% | 24.7% | 17.9% | 1978 | $679 | 4.6% | 59.0% | 5.0% |
| Wells | 2.09 | 45.7 | 11.5% | 33.4% | 12.8% | 1977 | $715 | 3.0% | 70.9% | 11.9% |
| Rockport | 2.55 | 37.5 | 5.3% | 10.5% | 21.0% | 1983 | $680 | 16.8% | 89.9% | 5.2% |
| Central City | 2.36 | 40.6 | 17.1% | 33.1% | 13.0% | 1975 | $674 | 6.1% | 84.3% | 10.3% |
| South Carrollton | 2.42 | 41.8 | 3.4% | 17.1% | 24.8% | 1978 | $811 | 7.5% | 88.3% | 17.0% |
| Moorman | 2.46 | 41.1 | 4.1% | 16.7% | 21.1% | 1978 | $816 | 9.0% | 89.3% | 14.2% |
| Scottown | 2.49 | 38.2 | 4.7% | 8.5% | 25.3% | 1983 | $621 | 17.0% | 89.9% | 6.2% |
| Echols | 2.57 | 36.9 | 5.4% | 10.2% | 20.3% | 1983 | $690 | 17.2% | 91.0% | 5.0% |
| Cleaton | 2.25 | 52.1 | 6.9% | 24.7% | 17.9% | 1978 | $679 | 4.6% | 59.0% | 5.0% |
| Centertown | 2.79 | 33.0 | 7.3% | 15.6% | 6.1% | 1981 | $882 | 17.6% | 94.4% | 1.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Fruit Hill, KY · Sutherland, KY · Surf, CA · Sunset Beach, MI · Sunnyland, OH · Sunnydale, AR · Sunnybrook, CA · Sunlight, WV · Summerfield, KS · Stumpy Point, NC
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. 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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