1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Nelson County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $72,589. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Nelson County
- How much Nelson County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Nelson County
- Housing costs in Nelson County
- The communities that make up Nelson County
- Counties near Nelson County
- Nelson County households compared
- Before borrowing in Nelson County
- A Nelson County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Virginia
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Nelson County
Roughly 14,732 residents live in Nelson County, Virginia, 100th by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 471 square miles, that works out to roughly 31.3 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Charlottesville, VA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Nellysford is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 1,584 people (11% of the county total).
How much Nelson County households make
Half of Nelson County households take in less than $72,589 a year and half take in more, 22% below the Virginia median of $93,170.
| Yearly household income | Nelson County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.4% | +5.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.4% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.9% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.3% | -5.4 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.5% of Nelson County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Virginia. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.479 here. None of these numbers decides a Nelson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Nelson County
The biggest employer of Nelson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (11%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 5% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Nelson County averages 3.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.3%). Long commutes are common here: 30% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Nelson County | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.1% | -5.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.3% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.3% | +0.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Nelson County
Renters in Nelson County pay a median of $946 a month, 40% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. By the Census definition, 40% of Nelson County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $321,700, about 4.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%. Median construction year: 1986.
| Home costs | Nelson County | Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $946/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $321,700 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 25% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The communities that make up Nelson County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Nelson County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 4,212 people, so roughly 71% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Nelson County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nellysford | CDP | 1,584 | $136,442 | $1,545 | 9 mi |
| Arrington | CDP | 915 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Wintergreen | CDP | 589 | $120,346 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Shipman | CDP | 472 | $49,301 | $1,068 | 5 mi |
| Lovingston | CDP | 455 | n/a | $232 | 2 mi |
| Schuyler | CDP | 197 | $33,850 | $788 | 10 mi |
Counties near Nelson County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Nelson County's, from 18 to 27 miles away. Albemarle County leads the group on income ($104,392), Buena Vista city trails ($57,833), and Nelson County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County | - | $72,589 | $946/mo | 80% |
| Amherst County, VA | 18 mi | $68,724 | $871/mo | 81% |
| Waynesboro city, VA | 19 mi | $59,994 | $1,020/mo | 60% |
| Albemarle County, VA | 24 mi | $104,392 | $1,692/mo | 66% |
| Buckingham County, VA | 24 mi | $60,828 | $927/mo | 77% |
| Buena Vista city, VA | 26 mi | $57,833 | $1,112/mo | 56% |
| Staunton city, VA | 27 mi | $65,581 | $1,024/mo | 61% |
Nelson County households compared
College graduates make up 36% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Nelson County | All of Virginia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.3% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.1% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 19.1% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Nelson County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 19.7% |
| 60+ min | 9.8% |
Before borrowing in Nelson County
A few patterns in the Nelson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Long drives. With 30% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Nelson County budgets.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 51, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
A Nelson County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Nelson County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,049 gross per month ($72,589 / 12)
- Less median rent of $946, which is 16% of it
- $1,171: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,776 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Nelson County's.
Checking a lender's license in Virginia
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Nelson County borrowers answers to the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Nelson County residents:
- Price the Nelson County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Virginia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Nelson County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nelson County a high-income county?
Its $72,589 median ranks 59th of 133 Virginia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Nelson County?
$946 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Does this page cover Nellysford?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Nelson County, such as Arrington, Wintergreen, Shipman.
Does living in Nelson County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Nelson County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Nelson County check a lender's license?
With the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.