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Nelson County, VA
7 cities and towns and 14 ZIP codes in Nelson County, Virginia.
Population
14,732
Land area
471sq mi
People per sq mi
31
ZIP codes
14
Cities and towns in Nelson County
Nelson County at a glance
- Nelson County is 86% less dense than Virginia as a whole.
- The median household income is $72,589, 22% below the Virginia median of $93,170.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $321,700 (16% below Virginia) and median rent is $946 a month.
- Its largest cities are Nellysford (1,584), Arrington (915) and Wintergreen (589).
Local data for Nelson County, VA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Nelson County, VA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$72,589
Poverty rate
12.5%
Median home value
$321,700
Prices +7.0% in a year
Median rent
$946/mo
Homeownership
79.7%
Bachelor's or higher
36.3%
Median age
51.3
Average commute
30.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (2,052), German Americans (1,683), Scottish Americans (592).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.2%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,077
3,980 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$71,776
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$139M
FY 2026, $9,398 per person
PPP loans
$28.73M
402 loans, 3,855 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$302K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Nelson County, VA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone67.4%
- Carpooled8.2%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked3.6%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.4%
- Worked from home19.1%
Average one-way commute: 30.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Nelson County, VA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
859
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
51
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 26°F
46.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone9 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Nelson County, VA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.2%
U.S. 33.3% +1.9 pts
Diabetes
15.6%
U.S. 12.1% +3.5 pts
Smoking
13.7%
U.S. 12.8% +0.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.3%
U.S. 11.1% -2.8 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Nelson County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Nelson County, VA?
- Nellysford is the largest city or town in Nelson County, with about 1,584 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Nelson County?
- Nelson County includes 14 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 22920, 22922, 22938, 22949, 22958.
- What is the population of Nelson County, VA?
- About 14,732 people live in Nelson County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Nelson County?
- Nelson County borders Albemarle County, Augusta County, Amherst County, Rockbridge County, Buckingham County, Appomattox County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023