Population
2,963
2025
−1.0% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Nelson County, ND: population growth, jobs and income
Nelson County gained 16 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.5%).
Nelson County had an estimated 2,963 residents in 2025, down 1.0% (30 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than North Dakota as a whole (+2.5%), and the 25th fastest growth of 51 counties in North Dakota.
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 North Dakota and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$582/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes25.0%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months62025-10/2026-09
- 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
+41
2025
13.8 per 1,000 residents
+82 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
2.6%
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
4
2025
1.3 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
$67,193
2020–24
+26.6% 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
779
2023
+13.6% 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 41 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 779 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +13.6% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 2.6% in 2025.
Builders were authorized to start 4 new homes in 2025, or 1.3 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $67,193 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +26.6% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,191st.
Get Nelson County’s next numbers by email
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 | 2,963 | +16 |
| 2024 | 2,947 | −35 |
| 2023 | 2,982 | −13 |
| 2022 | 2,995 | −47 |
| 2021 | 3,042 | +49 |
| 2020 | 2,993 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Nelson County
Nelson County lost 30 people since 2020 even though 82 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 153, and net international migration added 46.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −34 | −153 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +9 | +46 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +41 | +82 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +0 | −5 | |
| Total change | +16 | −30 |
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 North Dakota | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 25th of 51 | 2,191st of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 8th of 52 | 310th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 3rd of 52 | 449th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 36th of 52 | 1,395th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 24th of 52 | 167th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 23rd of 52 | 1,876th 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, ND 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 (−1.0%) was ahead of 3 of its 7 neighbouring counties and behind 4.
3 of its 7 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Nelson County's $67,193 (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, ND This county | 2,963 | −1.0% | 13.8 | 1.3 | $67,193 |
| Griggs County, ND | 2,239 | −2.5% | 12.5 | 0.0 | $61,711 |
| Ramsey County, ND | 11,530 | −0.4% | −2.6 | 0.5 | $61,006 |
| Walsh County, ND | 10,179 | −3.4% | 1.3 | 0.5 | $71,944 |
| Steele County, ND | 1,797 | −0.1% | 2.8 | 1.1 | $77,500 |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 74,501 | +1.9% | 0.7 | 2.5 | $68,075 |
| Eddy County, ND | 2,329 | +0.1% | 2.6 | 0.0 | $50,850 |
| Benson County, ND | 5,759 | −3.0% | 0.3 | 0.0 | $64,033 |
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?
No. Its population fell 1.0% between 2020 and 2025, about 30 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). North Dakota as a whole changed +2.5% over the same years. That ranks 25th of 51 counties in North Dakota for population growth.
How many people moved to Nelson County?
On net, about 41 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 2.6% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Nelson County?
About 2,963 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 779 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +13.6% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in North Dakota
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other North Dakota 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.