Population 410 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Nelson
Household size in Nelson
| Period | Nelson | Syracuse area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.70 | 2.51 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.50 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.46 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.34 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.38 | −0.17 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Nelson are small: just 2.32 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.70, 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 | Syracuse area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.9 | 38.9 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.0 | 39.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.8 | 40.7 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.4 | 41.4 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.5 | +2.5 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.4, Nelson is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 | Syracuse area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 12.1% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 12.1% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 12.0% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 11.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | −0.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Nelson: 4.9% 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 | Syracuse area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.1% | 31.6% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 32.9% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 32.9% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 31.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −0.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nelson is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over half of owners (53.0%) 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 | Syracuse area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2% | 11.2% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.4% | 11.4% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 33.8% | 13.0% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.7% | 9.4% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −20.5 pts | −1.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Nelson: 19.7% 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 | Syracuse area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1962 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1963 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1964 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1967 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | −8 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Nelson is a place of older homes: half were built before 1958, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 | Syracuse area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $930 | $748 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,058 | $794 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $845 | $911 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $773 | $1,138 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$157 | +$390 | +$698 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Nelson costs $773 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 25.1% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 | Syracuse area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.8% | 28.7% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.3% | 30.7% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.6% | 31.8% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.2% | 35.8% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +24.4 pts | +7.2 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nelson is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (55.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%.
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 | Syracuse area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.9% | 88.6% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.4% | 89.1% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.5% | 90.3% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.4% | 91.3% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Nelson: 96.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 | Syracuse area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 7.3% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 5.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.8% | 5.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.4 pts | −1.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Nelson has been low: just 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 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 | 2.32 | 47.4 | 4.9% | 14.3% | 19.7% | 1958 | $773 | 55.2% | 96.4% | 1.8% |
| Morrisville Station | 2.38 | 40.8 | 5.8% | 12.9% | 25.2% | 1967 | $939 | 22.7% | 91.0% | 3.5% |
| Erieville | 2.12 | 46.4 | 4.6% | 13.3% | 36.7% | 1958 | $798 | 32.4% | 96.5% | 5.0% |
| Cazenovia | 2.25 | 44.2 | 6.7% | 16.6% | 8.3% | 1966 | $1,182 | 51.7% | 95.7% | 4.6% |
| Bingley | 2.37 | 49.0 | 8.7% | 10.6% | 7.6% | 1974 | $940 | 42.3% | 94.7% | 4.7% |
| West Eaton | 2.02 | 44.5 | 12.4% | 17.6% | 41.4% | 1938 | $818 | 8.3% | 91.2% | 0.0% |
| Morrisville | 2.32 | 27.2 | 12.0% | 24.3% | 21.7% | 1965 | $853 | 21.9% | 87.4% | 4.5% |
| Peterboro | 2.72 | 42.8 | 4.5% | 9.6% | 11.2% | 1977 | $1,069 | 15.3% | 87.7% | 0.4% |
| New Woodstock | 2.29 | 49.5 | 8.5% | 8.9% | 13.5% | 1978 | $1,178 | 38.5% | 96.0% | 3.8% |
| Sheds | 2.11 | 48.6 | 5.2% | 16.3% | 38.9% | 1958 | $776 | 24.4% | 95.3% | 0.9% |
| Eaton | 2.20 | 44.4 | 9.5% | 16.4% | 35.4% | 1946 | $851 | 15.4% | 89.7% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Tyndall, OH · Duncan, MS · Dundaff, PA · Dundore, PA · Dunlo, PA · Eagle Grove, GA · East Brimfield, MA · East Dixfield, ME · East Wilton, ME · Eckville, PA
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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