What are the schools like in Nelson, MN?

School district data for Nelson is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Nelson?

The median household income in Nelson, MN is $50,833 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.6%.

What is the weather like in Nelson, MN?

Nelson has an average high temperature of 19.0°F in January and 80.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 24.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 46.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Nelson, MN affordable or expensive?

Nelson's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Nelson is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $161,300 and the median rent is $933 per month.

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

Nelson has a violent crime rate of 131.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 694.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Nelson, MN a Good Place to Live?

Nelson is a small town of 97 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $50,833 and a 3.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Nelson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 95.3

Nelson's overall cost of living index is 95.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Nelson costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Nelson, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$161,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$933	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,833	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Nelson's violent crime rate is 131.1 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

131.1 /100k

Property Crime

694.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Nelson, MN	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Nelson sees average highs of 19.0°F in January and 80.2°F in July, with 24.1 inches of annual precipitation and 46.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Nelson, MN
Average High — January	19.0°F
Average High — July	80.2°F
Annual Precipitation	24.1"
Annual Snowfall	46.3"

Demographics

Metric	Nelson, MN	National Avg
Population	97	—
Median Age	41.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	99.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.7%	22.2%
65 and over	13.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Alexandria, MN 5 mi Osakis, MN 6 mi Carlos, MN 6 mi Forada, MN 8 mi West Union, MN 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Nelson

Nelson, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56355

Nelson vs Other Cities

Nelson, MN vs Alexandria, MN Nelson, MN vs Osakis, MN Nelson, MN vs Carlos, MN Nelson, MN vs Forada, MN Nelson, MN vs West Union, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nelson, MN affordable or expensive?

Nelson's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Nelson roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $161,300 and median rent is $933/month.

What is the crime rate in Nelson, MN?

Nelson's violent crime rate is 131.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 694.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Nelson?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Nelson, MN a good place to live?

Nelson, MN has a population of 97, a median household income of $50,833, and an unemployment rate of 3.6%. 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 19.0°F in January and 80.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.1 inches with about 46.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Nelson?

Nelson, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56355.

What is the population of Nelson?

The population of Nelson, Minnesota is 97 with a median age of 41.3. 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 95 (100 = US average), median home $161,300, median household income $50,833, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.