Population
49,036
2025
+4.8% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Nelson County, KY: population growth, jobs and income
Nelson County gained 427 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.9%).
Nelson County had an estimated 49,036 residents in 2025, up 4.8% (2,251 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Kentucky as a whole (+2.2%), and the 23rd fastest growth of 120 counties in Kentucky.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Nelson County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Nelson County, ranked against Kentucky and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,008/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes5.8%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months2372025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+229
2025
4.7 per 1,000 residents
+1,628 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.4%
2025
+0.0 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
222
2025
−29.1% since 2021
4.5 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$69,562
2020–24
+10.4% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
17,214
2023
+20.2% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 229 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 17,214 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +20.2% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.4% in 2025.
Builders were authorized to start 222 new homes in 2025, or 4.5 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $69,562 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +10.4% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 643rd.
Part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area.
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Email me when Nelson County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Nelson County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49,036 | +427 |
| 2024 | 48,609 | +700 |
| 2023 | 47,909 | +479 |
| 2022 | 47,430 | +281 |
| 2021 | 47,149 | +364 |
| 2020 | 46,785 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Nelson County
Nelson County grew by 2,251 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+1,628).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +39 | −5 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +155 | +609 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +229 | +1,628 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +4 | +19 | |
| Total change | +427 | +2,251 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Kentucky | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 23rd of 120 | 643rd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 59th of 120 | 1,112th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 9th of 120 | 212th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 14th of 120 | 1,218th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 31st of 120 | 2,008th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 15th of 97 | 703rd of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Nelson County, KY as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Nelson County's population change (+4.8%) was ahead of 4 of its 7 neighbouring counties and behind 3.
3 of its 7 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Nelson County's $69,562 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County, KY This county | 49,036 | +4.8% | 4.7 | 4.5 | $69,562 |
| Larue County, KY | 15,184 | +2.0% | 3.4 | 3.9 | $67,067 |
| Bullitt County, KY | 86,454 | +5.0% | 7.4 | 7.6 | $80,558 |
| Marion County, KY | 20,115 | +2.7% | 3.0 | 2.8 | $59,627 |
| Washington County, KY | 12,368 | +2.7% | 4.1 | 2.1 | $61,616 |
| Spencer County, KY | 20,998 | +7.7% | 13.7 | 4.0 | $102,618 |
| Hardin County, KY | 113,482 | +2.4% | 4.1 | 3.8 | $67,647 |
| Anderson County, KY | 25,225 | +5.5% | 7.7 | 5.8 | $74,488 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Nelson County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 4.8% between 2020 and 2025, about 2,251 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Kentucky as a whole changed +2.2% over the same years. That ranks 23rd of 120 counties in Kentucky for population growth.
How many people moved to Nelson County?
On net, about 229 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Nelson County?
It averaged 4.4% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Nelson County?
About 49,036 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Nelson County?
Private employers there had 17,214 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +20.2% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Kentucky
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Kentucky county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Nelson County data alerts
Email me when Nelson County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.