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Nelson County, ND
8 cities and towns and 7 ZIP codes in Nelson County, North Dakota.
Population
3,016
Land area
982sq mi
People per sq mi
3
ZIP codes
7
Cities and towns in Nelson County
Nelson County at a glance
- Nelson County is 73% less dense than North Dakota as a whole.
- The median household income is $67,193, 12% below the North Dakota median of $76,657.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $139,700 (44% below North Dakota) and median rent is $582 a month.
- Its largest cities are Lakota (784), McVille (365) and Michigan City (277).
Local data for Nelson County, ND
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Nelson County, ND, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$67,193
Poverty rate
7.2%
Median home value
$139,700
Median rent
$582/mo
Homeownership
75.1%
Bachelor's or higher
29.4%
Median age
50.1
Average commute
19.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Norwegian Americans (1,304), German Americans (883), Swedish Americans (162).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
1.8%
Aug 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,777
1,019 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$77,562
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$36.4M
FY 2026, $12,073 per person
PPP loans
$8.4M
347 loans, 856 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$15.4K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Nelson County, ND, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone71.5%
- Carpooled8.9%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked9.2%
- Bicycle1.6%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.6%
- Worked from home8.1%
Average one-way commute: 19.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Nelson County, ND, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
668
Most often hail
July high / Jan low
79° / -4°F
20.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone3 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Nelson County, ND, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.6%
U.S. 33.3% +6.3 pts
Diabetes
12.4%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
13.2%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
6.9%
U.S. 11.1% -4.2 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Nelson County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Nelson County, ND?
- Lakota is the largest city or town in Nelson County, with about 784 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Nelson County?
- Nelson County includes 7 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 58212, 58224, 58254, 58259, 58272.
- What is the population of Nelson County, ND?
- About 3,016 people live in Nelson County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Nelson County?
- Nelson County borders Grand Forks County, Ramsey County, Walsh County, Benson County, Eddy County, Griggs County, Steele County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023