County profile · Kentucky
Nelson County, KY market data
How Nelson County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 49,036
- +4.8% since 2020
- Households
- 19,150
- Median household income
- $69,562
- +15.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $238,000
- Jobs located here
- 18,213
- Highest market score
- 78
- Bakeries and dessert shops, #115 of 1,889 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Nelson County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Nelson County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Nelson County has an estimated 49,036 people and 19,150 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Nelson County grew 4.8%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Nelson County is $69,562, 14% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 15.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Nelson County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 145, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (66).
Of the business types scored in Nelson County, bakeries and dessert shops (78); coffee shops and cafes (76); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (72) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For bakeries and dessert shops, that ranks #115 of 1,889 scored counties.
Nelson County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (64% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (59% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Nelson County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Nelson County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 78 | #115 of 1,889 | 11 | 5.7 | $6.2M | 149 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 76 | #175 of 2,063 | 13 | 6.8 | $5.2M | 141 | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 72 | #189 of 1,771 | 11 | 5.7 | $2.4M | 145 | 28 |
| Auto repair shops | 71 | #323 of 2,378 | 38 | 19.8 | $511K | 115 | 13 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 71 | #348 of 2,405 | 76 | 39.7 | $893K | 135 | 24 |
| Grocery stores | 71 | #394 of 2,070 | 12 | 6.3 | $9.3M | 100 | 4 |
| Real estate | 70 | #211 of 2,229 | 30 | 15.7 | Index only | 213 | 16 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 70 | #214 of 2,176 | 24 | 12.5 | Index only | 212 | 11 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 70 | #242 of 1,493 | 5 | 2.6 | $5.4M | 183 | 22 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 68 | #436 of 2,222 | 19 | 9.9 | $3.6M | 117 | 31 |
| Auto repair and car care | 66 | #515 of 2,401 | 68 | 35.5 | $285K | 106 | 23 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 65 | #613 of 2,402 | 46 | 24.0 | $2.4M | 72 | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | 64 | #277 of 1,177 | 5 | 2.6 | $10.4M | 123 | 4 |
| Tire shops | 64 | #416 of 1,530 | 6 | 3.1 | $3.2M | 129 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 64 | #471 of 2,088 | 19 | 9.9 | $653K | 99 | 3 |
| Pizza | 63 | #555 of 2,090 | 14 | 7.3 | $4.8M | 95 | 31 |
| Gas stations | 63 | #626 of 2,358 | 27 | 14.1 | $2.3M | 98 | 30 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 63 | #654 of 2,405 | 174 | 90.9 | $390K | 105 | 59 |
| Nail salons | 62 | #342 of 1,328 | 7 | 3.7 | $2.3M | 139 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 62 | #627 of 2,210 | 26 | 13.6 | $1.3M | 148 | 11 |
| Insurance agencies | 59 | #809 of 2,272 | 32 | 16.7 | $1.7M | 135 | 29 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 58 | #580 of 1,707 | 12 | 6.3 | $4.3M | 91 | 16 |
| Child care and preschools | 58 | #617 of 1,611 | 11 | 5.7 | $690K | 69 | 6 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 58 | #744 of 2,087 | 21 | 11.0 | $1.6M | 127 | 11 |
| Pet businesses | 57 | #782 of 2,200 | 22 | 11.5 | $726K | 83 | 11 |
| Veterinarians | 56 | #587 of 1,485 | 7 | 3.7 | $2.3M | 84 | 6 |
| Home repair trades | 56 | #747 of 2,057 | 22 | 11.5 | $2.4M | 97 | 35 |
| Car washes and detailing | 55 | #605 of 1,451 | 9 | 4.7 | $2.2M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 54 | #775 of 1,792 | 13 | 6.8 | $955K | 73 | 3 |
| Electricians | 52 | #537 of 1,160 | 5 | 2.6 | $10.4M | 87 | 15 |
| Physical therapy | 51 | #686 of 1,422 | 7 | 3.7 | $2.9M | 121 | 9 |
| Chiropractors | 49 | #763 of 1,490 | 9 | 4.7 | $2.3M | 94 | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 49 | #767 of 1,461 | 9 | 4.7 | $1.8M | 70 | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 49 | #1,172 of 2,261 | 25 | 13.1 | $4.5M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 46 | #1,390 of 2,339 | 43 | 22.5 | $378K | 88 | 9 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 44 | #1,162 of 1,886 | 19 | 9.9 | $1.1M | 109 | 16 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 43 | #1,582 of 2,385 | 81 | 42.3 | $201K | 94 | 15 |
| Funeral homes | 40 | #992 of 1,472 | 9 | 4.7 | $277K | 41 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 40 | #1,248 of 1,769 | 19 | 9.9 | $855K | 98 | 5 |
| Barbershops | 38 | #965 of 1,356 | 12 | 6.3 | $1.4M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 35 | #1,288 of 1,656 | 19 | 9.9 | $1.1M | 60 | 30 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 31 | #2,067 of 2,394 | 175 | 91.4 | $116K | 76 | 66 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $4.9M | 157 | 4 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $6.7M | 105 | 6 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $4.9M | 35 | 5 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $5.1M | 162 | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $4.1M | 205 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $5.3M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | Index only | 166 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $4.1M | 102 | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $13.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $10.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $33.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $33.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in Nelson County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $19.4M | $1,014 | 106 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $63M | $3,291 | 127 |
| Food away from home | $67.9M | $3,545 | 87 |
| Groceries | $111.6M | $5,830 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $16.2M | $848 | 84 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.6M | $396 | 68 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $12.4M | $648 | 66 |
| Medical and dental services | $20.3M | $1,060 | 82 |
| Pets | $16M | $834 | 92 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $33.9M | $1,771 | 86 |
| Vehicle insurance | $54.2M | $2,830 | 145 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $52.1M | $2,719 | 90 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $26.8M | $1,401 | 99 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $277M | $14,464 | 87 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Nelson County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 49,036+4.8% since 2020
- Households
- 19,150
- Median age
- 40.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 78%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 419 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 114
- Median household income
- $69,562+15.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $87,639
- Median home value
- $238,000
- Jobs located here
- 18,213
- Daytime population
- 41,912Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Nelson County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Nelson County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Kentucky 8
- Washington County, KY12,140 people
- Bullitt County, KY84,027 people
- Spencer County, KY20,193 people
- Marion County, KY19,749 people
- Larue County, KY15,107 people
- Hardin County, KY111,942 people
- Jefferson County, KY783,022 people
- Shelby County, KY49,096 people
Questions
How fast is Nelson County, KY growing?
Population estimates put Nelson County at 49,036 people in 2025, up 4.8% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 19,150 households. Median household income rose 15.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Nelson County, KY spend?
Households in Nelson County spend about $277M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $111.6M on groceries and $67.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Nelson County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 145, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (66).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Nelson County, KY?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Nelson County are for bakeries and dessert shops (78); coffee shops and cafes (76); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (72). Nelson County ranks #115 of 1,889 scored counties for bakeries and dessert shops.
How does Nelson County, KY compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Nelson County is $69,562 a year, 14% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 4.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $238,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Nelson County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (64% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (59% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 42 of the 56 business types have a score in Nelson County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Nelson County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Kentucky · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Nelson County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Nelson County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.