The Town FilesNelson, New York
Town in Madison County · population 1,890 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,000
- Household income
- $82,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 104 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.2
Nelson is a town of 1,890 people in Madison County, New York. The median home is worth $230,000, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of New York towns, better for retirees than 94% of New York towns, better for families than 85% of New York towns.
How Nelson ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Nelson is worth $230,000, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $82,063, which is more affordable than 52% of New York towns. Median rent is $773 a month. 86.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nelson | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $773 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $82,063 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 26.9% | — |
Who lives in Nelson
| People | Nelson | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in Nelson
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 11.3°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 104.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nelson since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 8, 2014 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 29, 2013.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| July 12, 2013 | Flood | DR-4129: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 20,886 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,324 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Nelson itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Nelson
- Morrisville, NY5.2 mi · 1,633 people · home $171,900
- Eaton, NY5.8 mi · 4,284 people · home $119,400
- Cazenovia, NY6.1 mi · 2,767 people · home $295,200
- Cazenovia, NY6.3 mi · 6,740 people · home $347,100
- Fenner, NY6.3 mi · 1,668 people · home $184,200
- Smithfield, NY6.8 mi · 1,127 people · home $161,500
- Georgetown, NY6.8 mi · 648 people · home $125,800
- Lebanon, NY9.5 mi · 1,326 people · home $127,600
Nelson questions
Is Nelson, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nelson scores better for retirees than 94% of New York towns and quieter than 84%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Nelson?
The median owner-occupied home in Nelson is valued at $230,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,063, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $773 a month.
What is the weather like in Nelson?
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 11.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 104.3 inches of snow.
Does Nelson get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nelson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 8, 2014. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)