The Town FilesNelson, Wisconsin
Town in Buffalo County · population 574 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $301,900
- Household income
- $78,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 59.2
Nelson is a town of 574 people in Buffalo County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $301,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 79% of Wisconsin towns.
How Nelson ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Nelson is worth $301,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $78,125, which is more affordable than 16% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $713 a month. 90.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nelson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $301,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $713 | $951 |
| Median household income | $78,125 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.6% | — |
Who lives in Nelson
| People | Nelson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Nelson
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.8 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nelson since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 5, 2016 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 3, 1973.
Severe weather in Buffalo County since 1996
Buffalo County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Buffalo County
Buffalo County had 3,616 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,517 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Nelson itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Nelson
- Wabasha, MN6.0 mi · 2,559 people · home $262,300
- Alma, WI7.5 mi · 716 people · home $177,900
- Greenfield, MN8.2 mi · 1,308 people · home $261,500
- Pepin, WI8.6 mi · 731 people · home $209,400
- Pepin, WI8.6 mi · 741 people · home $264,200
- Durand, WI12.6 mi · 1,854 people · home $152,400
- Durand, WI13.4 mi · 710 people · home $240,600
- Waterville, WI13.9 mi · 829 people · home $217,400
Nelson questions
Is Nelson, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nelson scores better for retirees than 97% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 64%. 39.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.2).
How much does a house cost in Nelson?
The median owner-occupied home in Nelson is valued at $301,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,125, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $713 a month.
What is the weather like in Nelson?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 39.8 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 EF1 on July 5, 2016. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)