Nelson County, Virginia: commercial real estate data.
Nelson County, Virginia had an estimated 14,766 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 14,770, across 471 square miles. County output reached $700.3 m in 2024, 372 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 2 7(a) approvals worth $165,000 since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Nelson County
How many people live in Nelson County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202414,732
- Households6,364
- Average household size2.31
- Median household income$72,589
- Median age51.3
- Median gross rent$946 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$321,700
- Home value to household income4.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher36.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over11,224
- Population under 182,564
- Share under 1817.4 percent
- Population 65 and over4,359
- Share 65 and over29.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 647,809
- Civilian labor force6,771
- Unemployment rate3.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over55.6 percent
- Rank by population among Virginia counties100th of 133
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2175th of 3,222
Nelson County is the 100th largest of 133 Virginia counties by population. A median home costs 4.4 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 29.6 percent against 17.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Nelson County
Is Nelson County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202414,766
- Census 2020 base population14,770
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.03 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024141
- Births, 2024143
- Deaths, 2024210
- Natural change, 2024-67
- Net domestic migration, 2024151
- Net international migration, 202460
- Total net migration, 2024211
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024206
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1838th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.03 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Nelson County
Where are people moving to Nelson County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving420
- People arriving, from those returns739
- Tax returns filed by households leaving434
- Net household movement-14
- Adjusted gross income arriving$47.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$15.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$113,976
- Average income of a leaving household$73,571
- Largest single originAlbemarle County (57 households)
- Largest single destinationAlbemarle County (68 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle County | 57 | 109 | $5.5 m |
| Amherst County | 28 | 60 | $1.0 m |
| Charlottesville city | 25 | 39 | $1.7 m |
Households arriving report $40,405 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Albemarle County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Nelson County
What is the Nelson County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$700.3 m
- County GDP, 2023$680.2 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.0 percent
- GDP change over five years31.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Virginia areas BEA publishes75th of 105
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2137th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,538
Output grew 3.0 percent in the latest year and 31.0 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Nelson County
Employment by industry in Nelson County
- Covered employment, annual average3,982
- Establishments reporting560
- Average annual pay$48,069
- Average weekly wage$924
- Accommodation and food services, employment650
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$32,403
- Manufacturing, employment530
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$42,094
- Health care and social assistance, employment278
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$50,192
- Other services, except public administration, employment257
- Other services, except public administration, average annual pay$48,471
- Retail trade, employment254
- Construction, employment234
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 650 | 22 | $32,403 |
| Manufacturing | 530 | 26 | $42,094 |
| Health care and social assistance | 278 | 127 | $50,192 |
| Other services, except public administration | 257 | 43 | $48,471 |
| Retail trade | 254 | 41 | $26,193 |
| Construction | 234 | 76 | $47,155 |
| Educational services | 84 | 6 | $55,107 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 67 | 28 | $44,356 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 650 jobs, 16.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Nelson County
How many businesses are in Nelson County?
- Establishments, all industries372
- Employment at those establishments3,265
- Annual payroll$124.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Nelson County
Building permits in Nelson County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202466
- Declared construction value permitted$20.9 m
- Single family units authorized66
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$316,641
- Units authorized per 1,000 households10.4
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Nelson County
SBA loans in Nelson County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded2
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$165,000
- Average 7(a) approval$82,500
- Median 7(a) approval$82,500
- Largest single approval$150,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)4
- Jobs per approval2.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active2
- Distinct industries receiving approvals2
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer0.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms0
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter2
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$295,000
- Average 504 approval$295,000
- Median 504 approval$295,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval4.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.6
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$460,000
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Nelson County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Nelson County
Do SBA loans in Nelson County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded0
- Paid in full0
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure2
Only 0 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Nelson County
SBA lending by place in Nelson County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Lowesville, approvals1
- Nellysford, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Lowesville | 1 | $150,000 |
| Nellysford | 1 | $15,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Nelson County
How large is Nelson County?
- Land area471 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Virginia counties32nd of 133
- Width, east to west28.9 mi
- Height, north to south35.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land31
- Establishments per square mile0.79
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Nelson County
Flood risk in Nelson County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Nelson County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 510102
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book1
- Of those, participating in the NFIP1
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Nelson County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Nelson County (community 510102), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Nelson County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Nelson County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Nelson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202414,732
- Households6,364
- Average household size2.31
- Median household income$72,589
- Median age51.3
Common questions
Nelson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Nelson County, Virginia?
The Census Bureau estimates 14,766 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 14,732, in 6,364 households, ranking 100th of 133 Virginia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Nelson County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.03 percent since the 2020 census base of 14,770, to 14,766 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 143 births against 210 deaths, with net migration of 211. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Nelson County?
$72,589. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $321,700, which is 4.4 times income, and median gross rent is $946 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Nelson County?
372 establishments, employing 3,265 people with an annual payroll of $124.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Nelson County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 650 jobs, 16.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 3,982 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,069, or $924 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Nelson County?
2 7(a) approvals totaling $165,000 since FY2020, across 2 lenders, with a median approval of $82,500, plus 1 504 approvals worth $295,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Nelson County?
66 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $20.9 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Nelson County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Nelson County come from?
The largest single origin is Albemarle County, with 57 households. Arriving households report an average income of $113,976 against $73,571 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Nelson County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Nelson County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Nelson County
Cities and places in Nelson.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Nelson County. All 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nellysford | CDP | 1,584 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Arrington | CDP | 915 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wintergreen | CDP | 589 | None recorded | 91.2 percent here, 8.8 percent Augusta County |
| Shipman | CDP | 472 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lovingston | CDP | 455 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Afton | CDP | 266 | None recorded | 83.3 percent here, 16.7 percent Albemarle County |
| Schuyler | CDP | 197 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 2 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Nelson County, the largest being Lowesville (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby