County profile · Virginia
Nelson County, VA market data
How Nelson County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 14,920
- +1.2% since 2020
- Households
- 6,364
- Median household income
- $72,589
- +12.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $321,700
- Jobs located here
- 3,841
- Highest market score
- 80
- Auto repair and car care, #114 of 2,401 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 14,920 people and 6,364 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Nelson County grew 1.2%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Nelson County is $72,589, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 12.9%, 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 (81).
Of the business types scored in Nelson County, auto repair and car care businesses (80); auto repair shops (76); and salons, barbers and spas (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair and car care businesses, that ranks #114 of 2,401 scored counties.
Nelson County is part of the Charlottesville metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (twice the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (53% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair and car care | 80 | #114 of 2,401 | 13 | 20.4 | $518K | 193 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 76 | #187 of 2,378 | 9 | 14.1 | $748K | 168 | 4 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 74 | #176 of 2,385 | 5 | 7.9 | $1.2M | 552 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 72 | #315 of 2,405 | 24 | 37.7 | $1M | 157 | 9 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 66 | #483 of 2,394 | 25 | 39.3 | $292K | 192 | 7 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 65 | #411 of 2,088 | 6 | 9.4 | $844K | 128 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 62 | #697 of 2,405 | 70 | 110.0 | $356K | 96 | 12 |
| Pet businesses | 52 | #986 of 2,200 | 7 | 11.0 | $854K | 97 | 7 |
| Convenience stores | 49 | #1,169 of 2,261 | 8 | 12.6 | $4.9M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 46 | #1,376 of 2,402 | 19 | 29.9 | $2M | 60 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 45 | #1,216 of 2,063 | 8 | 12.6 | $3.1M | 84 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 44 | #1,134 of 1,792 | 5 | 7.9 | $1M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 44 | #1,378 of 2,176 | 15 | 23.6 | Index only | 121 | 6 |
| Real estate | 42 | #1,508 of 2,229 | 16 | 25.1 | Index only | 142 | 16 |
| Grocery stores | 40 | #1,373 of 2,070 | 7 | 11.0 | $5.6M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 40 | #1,599 of 2,358 | 14 | 22.0 | $1.5M | 64 | 13 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 33 | #1,488 of 1,771 | 9 | 14.1 | $1.1M | 64 | 16 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 30 | #1,286 of 1,493 | 7 | 11.0 | $1.4M | 47 | 12 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.3 | $6.2M | 150 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.3 | $1.5M | 59 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.3 | $1.8M | 76 | 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.3 | $6.2M | 123 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.7 | $2.4M | 248 | 4 |
| Insurance agencies | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.7 | $6M | 478 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.7 | $2M | 224 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $3.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $6.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $6.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $12.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $576K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $9.4M | Too few | 5 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $9.4M | Too few | 5 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $4.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $3M | Too few | 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $7.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $5.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $7.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | Index only | Too few | 6 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $6.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 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 | $6.7M | $1,058 | 110 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $21.3M | $3,345 | 129 |
| Food away from home | $24.9M | $3,918 | 96 |
| Groceries | $38.9M | $6,115 | 97 |
| Personal care products and services | $5.9M | $923 | 92 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.2M | $509 | 88 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.1M | $796 | 81 |
| Medical and dental services | $7.3M | $1,148 | 89 |
| Pets | $6M | $939 | 103 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12.5M | $1,965 | 96 |
| Vehicle insurance | $18M | $2,830 | 145 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $18.9M | $2,969 | 98 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $9.7M | $1,523 | 108 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $98.6M | $15,500 | 93 |
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
- 14,920+1.2% since 2020
- Households
- 6,364
- Median age
- 49.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 80%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 471 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 31
- Median household income
- $72,589+12.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $104,122
- Median home value
- $321,700
- Jobs located here
- 3,841
- Daytime population
- 12,142Residents 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 Virginia 8
- Waynesboro city, VA22,841 people
- Augusta County, VA78,033 people
- Amherst County, VA31,485 people
- Albemarle County, VA114,919 people
- Charlottesville city, VA45,437 people
- Staunton city, VA25,948 people
- Buckingham County, VA16,976 people
- Buena Vista city, VA6,593 people
Questions
How fast is Nelson County, VA growing?
Population estimates put Nelson County at 14,920 people in 2025, up 1.2% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 6,364 households. Median household income rose 12.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Nelson County, VA spend?
Households in Nelson County spend about $98.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $38.9M on groceries and $24.9M 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 (81).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Nelson County, VA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Nelson County are for auto repair and car care businesses (80); auto repair shops (76); and salons, barbers and spas (74). Nelson County ranks #114 of 2,401 scored counties for auto repair and car care businesses.
How does Nelson County, VA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Nelson County is $72,589 a year, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $321,700, 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 gas stations (twice the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (53% 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. 18 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.
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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.