The typical owner-occupied home in Nelson County is worth about $139,700, 44% below the North Dakota median of $249,900 and 58% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,044 a year in property taxes, about 0.75% of their home's value, lower than the North Dakota rate of 0.99%. The median household earns $67,193 a year, so the median home costs 2.1 times the median income (3.3 times for North Dakota). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 35% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Nelson County at a glance
| Nelson County | North Dakota | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,700 | $249,900 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,044 | $2,468 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.75% | 0.99% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $67,193 | $76,657 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 75% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 35% | 52% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,351 | $1,762 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.9% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $582 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 17.6% | 25.0% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1963 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 25.0% | 12.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 3,016 | 784,841 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Nelson County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Nelson County home of $139,700 with 20% down costs about $897 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,130, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $38,457 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 16% of the median Nelson County household income of $67,193; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $244,000.
The median rent here is $582 a month, so owning the median home costs about $315 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $27,940 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $111,760 |
| Principal and interest | $752 |
| Property taxes (0.75% a year) | $87 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $58 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $897 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $4,890 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $137,170 |
| Principal and interest | $923 |
| Property taxes (0.75% a year) | $87 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $58 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $62 |
| Total per month | $1,130 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Nelson County
What is the median home value in Nelson County?
About $139,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Nelson County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,044 a year, which is about 0.75% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Nelson County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $897 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $38,457 a year.
More about Nelson County
- Mortgage Refinance in Nelson County
- Debt Relief in Nelson County
- Home Equity Loans in Nelson County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data