City · Georgia
Nelson, Georgia
Nelson, city, mostly in Cherokee County (52.1% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Pickens County, Georgia. Nelson had 1,172 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,145 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,166 (±327). GEOID 1354572.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,172
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,145 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,166 ±327
Median household income
$89,375
±$25,511 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$255,000
±$66,944 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
$998
±$730 (90% margin)
Georgia: $1,393
Where is Nelson and what county is it in?
Nelson is a city mostly in Cherokee County (52.1% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Pickens County, Georgia. It covers 1.6 square miles of land, 712 residents per square mile in 2020.
Nelson is in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 29 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | 596 | 52.1% |
| Pickens County | 549 | 47.9% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Nelson, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,172 people lived in Nelson on July 1, 2025, up 2.2% since 2020, slower than Georgia (+5.5%). The 2020 Census counted 1,145 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,166 (±327).
| Measure | Nelson | Cherokee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,166 ±327 | 281,032 | no clear change |
| Households | 438 ±128 | 101,514 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.66 ±0.44 | 2.75 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 458 ±129 | 106,407 | no clear change |
Nelson's population since 2000
From 626 in 2000 to 1,172 in 2025: up 87.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Nelson as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Nelson?
The median resident of Nelson is 43.3 years old; 21.2% are under 18 and 21.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.2%.
| Measure | Nelson | Cherokee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 ±4.5 | 40.2 | +9.7 |
| Under 18 years | 21.2% ±7.4 pts | 22.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.3% ±6.7 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Male | 53.1% ±5.8 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.2% ±8.8 pts | 12.4% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.8% ±8.9 pts | 73.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±1.9 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.8 pts | 2.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±4.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±4.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±3.1 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±4.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.0% ±5.5 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.7% ±7.2 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.4% ±4.1 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 13.6% ±6.5 pts | 10.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.6% ±3.6 pts | 10.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.3% ±6.4 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.5% ±6.1 pts | 41.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.9% ±5.2 pts | 13.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 96.8% ±3.1 pts | 88.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±4.0 pts | 2.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Nelson earn?
Half of Nelson's 438 households earn less than $89,375 a year (±$25,511), against $108,115 in Cherokee County and $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 it was $93,517 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Nelson | Cherokee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $89,375 ±$25,511 | $108,115 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $115,878 ±$30,523 | $131,625 | – |
| Per capita income | $45,607 ±$9,275 | $48,727 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.9% ±4.9 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 1.2% ±2.6 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.2% ±8.4 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.4% ±9.5 pts | 98.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.5% ±9.7 pts | 95.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Nelson?
Owners occupy 77.4% of Nelson's occupied homes and renters 22.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $255,000 by its owner (±$66,944).
| Measure | Nelson | Cherokee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $255,000 ±$66,944 | $435,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $998 ±$730 | $1,799 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 65.7% ±31.6 pts | 47.1% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,565 ±$198 | $2,032 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.4% ±11.1 pts | 77.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 22.6% ±11.1 pts | 22.7% | – |
| Housing units | 458 ±129 | 106,407 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±13.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±35.8 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 90.8% ±9.0 pts | 79.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% ±9.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.6% ±6.3 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.5% ±1.7 pts | 18.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 27.7% ±14.4 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.4% ±1.9 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Nelson building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units in Nelson in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 4.3 per 1,000 residents against 5.4 across Georgia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Nelson work and get to work?
77.6% of Nelson's workers drive alone and 10.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.2 minutes.
| Measure | Nelson | Cherokee County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.1% ±8.1 pts | 68.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.9% ±6.1 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 77.6% ±9.6 pts | 68.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.2% ±9.7 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±7.8 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±7.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.2% ±5.2 pts | 21.9% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.2 min ±4.6 | 31.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Nelson?
No census tract lies mostly in Nelson; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 506.01Pickens County | 5,258 | $104,489 |
| Tract 901.01Cherokee County | 5,154 | $106,563 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Nelson) · Census block assignment files
How does Nelson compare with other places in Georgia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Nelson is the 9,686th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 290th-most populous of 537 in Georgia.
Nelson ranks 71st of 348 places in Georgia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 290th | 537 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 180th | 297 |
| Residents per square mile | 221st | 360 |
| Median household income | 71st | 348 |
| Per capita income | 50th | 357 |
| Median home value | 130th | 346 |
| Poverty rate | 273rd | 302 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 188th | 343 |
| Median age | 55th | 360 |
| Owner-occupied share | 60th | 354 |
| Work from home | 128th | 198 |
| Travel time to work | 89th | 359 |
Nelson's figures with every place in Georgia (CSV)
Every place in Georgia, sortable · Compare Nelson with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Nelson?
23 of the 57 figures for Nelson on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Nelson are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Nelson.