What are the schools like in Nelson, GA?

Nelson is served primarily by Pickens County. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.8:1.

What is the median household income in Nelson?

The median household income in Nelson, GA is $66,719 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.6%.

What is the weather like in Nelson, GA?

Nelson has an average high temperature of 47.5°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 53.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.5 inches.

Nelson, GA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Nelson, GA affordable or expensive?

Nelson's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Nelson is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $224,200 and the median rent is $993 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Nelson, GA?

Nelson has a violent crime rate of 103.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 704.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Nelson, GA a Good Place to Live?

Nelson is a small town of 946 in Georgia, with a median household income of $66,719 and a 2.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Nelson stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Nelson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Nelson city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.9

Nelson's overall cost of living index is 100.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Nelson costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Nelson, GA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$224,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$993	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	75.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$66,719	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Nelson's violent crime rate is 103.6 per 100,000 residents — 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

103.6 /100k

Property Crime

704.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Nelson is served primarily by Pickens County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Nelson, GA	National Avg
School District	Pickens County	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Nelson sees average highs of 47.5°F in January and 84.5°F in July, with 53.9 inches of annual precipitation and 2.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Nelson, GA
Average High — January	47.5°F
Average High — July	84.5°F
Annual Precipitation	53.9"
Annual Snowfall	2.5"

Demographics

Metric	Nelson, GA	National Avg
Population	946	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	23.7%	22.2%
65 and over	21.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ball Ground, GA 3 mi Jasper, GA 7 mi Waleska, GA 11 mi Canton, GA 11 mi Talking Rock, GA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Nelson

Nelson, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

30177

Nelson vs Other Cities

Nelson, GA vs Ball Ground, GA Nelson, GA vs Jasper, GA Nelson, GA vs Waleska, GA Nelson, GA vs Canton, GA Nelson, GA vs Talking Rock, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nelson, GA affordable or expensive?

Nelson's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Nelson roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $224,200 and median rent is $993/month.

What is the crime rate in Nelson, GA?

Nelson's violent crime rate is 103.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 704.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Nelson?

Public schools in Nelson are operated by Pickens County. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Nelson, GA a good place to live?

Nelson, GA has a population of 946, a median household income of $66,719, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Nelson?

Nelson averages 47.5°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.9 inches with about 2.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Nelson?

Nelson, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 30177.

What is the population of Nelson?

The population of Nelson, Georgia is 946 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Nelson?

Key numbers for living in Nelson: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $224,200, median household income $66,719, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Nelson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.