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Nelson, GA
City in Cherokee County, Georgia.
Population
1,166
Land area
1.6sq mi
People per sq mi
725
ZIP codes
0
Nelson and its ZIP codes
Nelson at a glance
- Nelson is about 3.8 times as dense as Georgia as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $89,375 a year, 16% more than the Georgia figure of $77,353.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $255,000 (16% below Georgia) and median rent is $998 a month.
Local data for Nelson, GA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Nelson, GA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$89,375
Poverty rate
7.9%
Median home value
$255,000
Median rent
$998/mo
Homeownership
77.4%
Bachelor's or higher
21.5%
Median age
43.3
Average commute
30.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (233), Mexican Americans (103), German Americans (85).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Cherokee County. PPP loans are for Nelson.
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,610
73,868 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$74,826
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$1.7B
FY 2026, $6,271 per person
How people get to work
Nelson, GA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.6%
- Carpooled11.2%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home10.2%
Average one-way commute: 30.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Nelson, GA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: tornado
Storm events since 1996
723
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
212
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 31°F
58.6 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Nelson, GA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.2%
U.S. 33.3% +0.9 pts
Diabetes
11.0%
U.S. 12.1% -1.1 pts
Smoking
14.3%
U.S. 12.8% +1.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.6%
U.S. 11.1% -0.5 pts
Cities near Nelson
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Ball GroundCity | 2.8 mi | 6.4 |
| JasperCity | 6.9 mi | 8.6 |
| WaleskaCity | 11 mi | 1.7 |
| CantonCity | 11 mi | 18.6 |
| DawsonvilleCity | 12 mi | 9.6 |
| Talking RockTown | 12 mi | 2.1 |
| Holly SpringsCity | 16 mi | 7.3 |
| MiltonCity | 17 mi | 38.6 |
| CummingCity | 18 mi | 7.6 |
| FairmountCity | 20 mi | 1.8 |
| WoodstockCity | 21 mi | 13 |
| Mountain ParkCity | 21 mi | 0.5 |
| RangerCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 0.9 |
| East EllijayCity | 21 mi | 3.3 |
| EllijayCity | 22 mi | 3.6 |
| AlpharettaCity | 22 mi | 26.9 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Nelson, GA in?
- Nelson is in Cherokee County, Georgia.
- What is the population of Nelson, GA?
- About 1,166 people live in Nelson, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Nelson?
- Nearby places include Ball Ground (2.8 mi), Jasper (6.9 mi), Waleska (11 mi), Canton (11 mi), Dawsonville (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023