The Town Files

Nelson County, North Dakota

3,016 people. The median home is worth $139,700 (typical North Dakota town: $167,950) and the median household earns $67,193.

Towns in Nelson County

Towns in Nelson County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Lakota683$167,800$66,09038.8

People and housing

Nelson CountyTypical North Dakota town
Median home value$139,700$167,950
Median rent$582$775
Median household income$67,193$68,195
Median age50.139.0
Bachelor's degree or higher29.4%23.0%
Below the poverty line7.2%10.6%

Jobs and pay

1,040 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,926 a year.

Largest industries in Nelson CountyWholesale trade134 jobs · $73,161Finance & insurance66 jobs · $60,982Construction64 jobs · $59,489Retail62 jobs · $25,455Agriculture, forestry & fishi…42 jobs · $54,008Manufacturing11 jobs · $47,751
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Nelson County0%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023 2.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 668 storm events in Nelson County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Nelson County by type since 1996Hail159Flood44Tornado31Blizzard69High Wind32Heavy Snow31Flash Flood15Funnel Cloud11Winter Storm48Cold/Wind Chill20
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Nelson County has been included in 33 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
October 22, 2025Severe StormDR-4895: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
July 5, 2023FloodDR-4717: Flooding
February 5, 2023SnowstormDR-4686: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Straight-Line Winds
July 13, 2022Severe StormDR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding
October 2, 2020Severe StormDR-4565: Severe Storms And Flooding
July 9, 2020FloodDR-4553: Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).