Population 801 · 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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.18 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.21 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.23 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in Nelson has 2.41 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of Wisconsin. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.18, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.7 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.3 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.5 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.1 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 50.8, 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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Nelson (9.7%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Wisconsin as a whole looks much the same.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.5% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nelson is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly six in ten owners (56.5%) 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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.4% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Nelson: 15.0% 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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Nelson are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $572 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $627 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $737 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $962 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$390 | +$380 | +$606 |
Rent in Nelson runs $962 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 21.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.8% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.6 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults 25 and older in Nelson (28.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below 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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.9% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.3% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.4% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Nelson: 94.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Wisconsin as a whole looks much the same.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Nelson has been strong: just 1.9% 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 | 2.41 | 50.8 | 9.7% | 16.1% | 15.0% | 1976 | $962 | 28.8% | 94.4% | 1.9% |
| Maxville | 2.52 | 52.7 | 2.2% | 13.1% | 17.2% | 1978 | $950 | 22.4% | 90.5% | 2.1% |
| Tell | 2.35 | 49.6 | 11.1% | 17.9% | 16.6% | 1973 | $963 | 30.4% | 95.5% | 1.7% |
| Wabasha | 2.06 | 54.3 | 5.0% | 23.8% | 15.2% | 1974 | $813 | 22.1% | 95.2% | 1.4% |
| Reads Landing | 1.90 | 58.6 | 3.0% | 24.5% | 18.1% | 1977 | $869 | 17.6% | 94.3% | 1.1% |
| Ella | 2.34 | 50.9 | 7.0% | 10.0% | 15.9% | 1974 | $1,048 | 23.6% | 92.9% | 3.5% |
| Pepin | 2.15 | 57.2 | 6.0% | 15.3% | 24.6% | 1973 | $913 | 26.3% | 95.1% | 5.8% |
| Alma | 2.07 | 52.9 | 6.8% | 29.7% | 23.3% | 1955 | $837 | 26.0% | 92.1% | 1.7% |
| Modena | 2.62 | 47.5 | 6.3% | 13.5% | 13.2% | 1959 | $1,093 | 25.1% | 95.6% | 5.6% |
| West Newton | 2.13 | 54.3 | 5.9% | 8.4% | 26.3% | 1977 | $908 | 22.2% | 96.3% | 0.8% |
| Misha Mokwa | 2.41 | 46.0 | 10.5% | 18.1% | 11.1% | 1971 | $876 | 21.9% | 93.3% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Wax, GA · Billings, OK · Birchleaf, VA · Blanco, NM · Branch, MO · Dry Run, PA · Uehling, NE · Valle, AZ · Vancleve, KY · Airport Drive, MO
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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