City profile · Georgia · Census ACS 2023

Nelson, GA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Nelson - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,015
Residents
$78,500
Median income
$246,900
Median home
$1,820
Median rent (state)

Nelson - the verdict

Nelson ranks in the 60th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
55th
percentile, home value
76th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Nelson, GA

1,015 people live in Nelson, Georgia - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Nelson households earn a median of $78,500 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.2%. Home values in Nelson run a median of $246,900, and the median resident age is 39.0 years. Educational attainment runs 22.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 64.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 2 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 50% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Georgia run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Georgia at 96.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,820 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Georgia's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 34.8 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

1,015 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Georgia

Median Household Income

$78,500 /yr

Poverty 2.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Georgia average

How does Nelson compare to other US cities?

Where Nelson sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 55% pricier than other cities
Median rent 76% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Nelson against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Georgia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Georgia-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Nelson near the bottom of Georgia's cities

Among the 637 Georgia cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Nelson ranks #570 - the 10th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Nelson only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#134 of 610
78th percentile in Georgia
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 638
76th percentile in Georgia
Median Home Value
#149 of 577
74th percentile in Georgia
Poverty Rate
#570 of 637
10th percentile in Georgia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#224 of 638
65th percentile in Georgia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Georgia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Nelson's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$246,900 45th percentile more affordable than 45% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Nelson $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Nelson, GA Nelson, GA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Nelson, GA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Nelson, GA median $78,500/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Nelson, GA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Nelson, GA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,015
Median Income
$78,500
Median Home Value
$246,900
Median Age
39.0
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Labor force participation
64.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.9%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,140 residents1,150 residents1,160 residents1,170 residents1,180 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,151 residents 1,172 residents ▲ +1.8%
Nelson's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 3
2021 1
2022 0
2023 4
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.7%
Carpool
8.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
6.0%
Other
2.3%

Based on 497 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Georgia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$125
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Georgia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Georgia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Nelson sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,820/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
34.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Georgia

Flovilla
1,013 people
Cohutta
1,018 people
Dexter
1,006 people
Woodbine
1,006 people
Mountain City
1,027 people
Talahi Island
1,028 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Nelson's 1,015 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Town Creek, AL
1,015 people
Woodville, AL
1,015 people
Mammoth, AZ
1,015 people
Maricopa, CA
1,015 people
North Edwards, CA
1,015 people
Lincoln Center, KS
1,015 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Nelson's $78,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Holiday Hills, IL
$78,500 median income
New Lothrop, MI
$78,500 median income
Wrightwood, CA
$78,496 median income
Catheys Valley, CA
$78,494 median income
Finneytown, OH
$78,494 median income
Buckhorn, CA
$78,510 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Nelson, GA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Nelson, GA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.4% 6.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.7% White 85.4% Black or African American 2.8% Asian 1.5% American Indian 6.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.0% Two or more races 1.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Nelson compares to nearby Georgia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Nelson (this city) 1,015 $78,500
Flovilla 1,013 $46,058
Cohutta 1,018 $73,894
Dexter 1,006 N/A
Census ACS 5-year FIPS GA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Nelson, GA?

What is the population of Nelson, GA? +

Nelson, GA counts 1,015 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Nelson, GA? +

Nelson households earn a median of $78,500 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Nelson? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Nelson; the closest available measure is the Georgia state average, a cost of living index of 96.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Georgia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Nelson, GA? +

Homes in Nelson carry a median value of $246,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.