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Nelson County, KY
7 cities and towns and 8 ZIP codes in Nelson County, Kentucky.
Population
47,606
Land area
419sq mi
People per sq mi
114
ZIP codes
8
Cities and towns in Nelson County
Nelson County at a glance
- By population, it ranks 22nd among 120 counties in Kentucky.
- The median household income is $69,562, 9% above the Kentucky median of $63,726.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $238,000 (16% above Kentucky) and median rent is $1,008 a month.
- Its largest cities are Bardstown (13,804), Bloomfield (1,124) and New Haven (837).
Local data for Nelson County, KY
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Nelson County, KY, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$69,562
Poverty rate
10.8%
Median home value
$238,000
Prices +4.7% in a year
Median rent
$1,008/mo
Homeownership
78.3%
Bachelor's or higher
23.8%
Median age
39.5
Average commute
26.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (5,516), German Americans (5,050), Italian Americans (1,048).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.4%
Sep 2026, +0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$58,405
18,432 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$58,611
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$346M
FY 2026, $7,392 per person
PPP loans
$65.4M
1,560 loans, 8,464 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$109K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Nelson County, KY, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone82.6%
- Carpooled8.4%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked1.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.8%
- Worked from home6.0%
Average one-way commute: 26.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Nelson County, KY, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
362
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
59
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 26°F
51.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone26 historic places
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Nelson County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Nelson County, KY?
- Bardstown is the largest city or town in Nelson County, with about 13,804 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Nelson County?
- Nelson County includes 8 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 40004, 40008, 40012, 40013, 40020.
- What is the population of Nelson County, KY?
- About 47,606 people live in Nelson County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Nelson County?
- Nelson County borders Hardin County, Bullitt County, Anderson County, Spencer County, Marion County, Larue County, Washington County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023