The Town Files

Nelson County, Virginia

14,732 people. The median home is worth $321,700 (typical Virginia town: $298,050) and the median household earns $72,589.

Towns in Nelson County

Towns in Nelson County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Nellysford1,254$552,600$136,44262.3
Arrington718$220,600—27.8
Lovingston503$294,100—58.5

People and housing

Nelson CountyTypical Virginia town
Median home value$321,700$298,050
Median rent$946$1,254
Median household income$72,589$78,595
Median age51.339.8
Bachelor's degree or higher36.3%31.2%
Below the poverty line12.5%8.8%

Jobs and pay

3,982 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,069 a year.

Largest industries in Nelson CountyHotels & restaurants650 jobs · $32,403Manufacturing530 jobs · $42,094Health care & social assistan…278 jobs · $50,192Other services257 jobs · $48,471Retail254 jobs · $26,193Construction234 jobs · $47,155
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Nelson County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 859 storm events in Nelson County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Nelson County by type since 1996Hail42Heat32Flood64Dense Fog48High Wind30Heavy Rain16Flash Flood65Frost/Freeze51Winter Storm66Winter Weather153
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Nelson County has been included in 28 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 23, 2026Winter StormEM-3631: Severe Winter Storm
October 1, 2024Tropical StormDR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene
March 11, 2022Severe StormDR-4644: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
April 2, 2020BiologicalDR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3448: Covid-19
October 15, 2018HurricaneDR-4401: Hurricane Florence
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).