The Town FilesNelson, Georgia
City in Cherokee County · population 1,145 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $255,000
- Household income
- $89,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 43.3
Nelson is a city of 1,145 people in Cherokee County, Georgia. The median home is worth $255,000, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for families than 97% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 94% of Georgia towns, quieter than 86% of Georgia towns.
How Nelson ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Nelson is worth $255,000, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $89,375, which is more affordable than 70% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $998 a month. 77.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nelson | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $255,000 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $998 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $89,375 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 77.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Nelson
| People | Nelson | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Nelson
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 58.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.5 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nelson since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 20, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on February 21, 2005.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 74,280 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,283 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Nelson itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Nelson
1 public school with 477 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tate Elementary School | PK-4 | 477 | 13.6 |
Towns near Nelson
- Ball Ground, GA2.3 mi · 2,560 people · home $366,300
- Jasper, GA7.2 mi · 4,084 people · home $282,500
- Waleska, GA10.7 mi · 921 people · home $483,300
- Canton, GA11.2 mi · 32,973 people · home $407,800
- Dawsonville, GA14.6 mi · 3,720 people · home $362,900
- Holly Springs, GA15.8 mi · 16,213 people · home $448,400
- Milton, GA16.4 mi · 41,296 people · home $789,000
- Cumming, GA18.0 mi · 7,318 people · home $382,900
Nelson questions
Is Nelson, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nelson scores better for retirees than 74% of Georgia towns and quieter than 86%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Nelson?
The median owner-occupied home in Nelson is valued at $255,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,375, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $998 a month.
What is the weather like in Nelson?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.5 inches of snow.
Does Nelson get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nelson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)