The Town FilesNelson, Michigan
Township in Kent County · population 4,895 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $253,300
- Household income
- $66,735
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 42.7
Nelson is a township of 4,895 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $253,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 88% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Nelson ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Nelson is worth $253,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $66,735, which is more affordable than 11% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $569 a month. 93.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nelson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $253,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $569 | $955 |
| Median household income | $66,735 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Nelson
| People | Nelson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Nelson
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nelson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 3.9 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 131 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 21, 2022.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 415,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,288 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Nelson itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Nelson
- Cedar Springs, MI4.2 mi · 3,627 people · home $214,000
- Spencer, MI5.9 mi · 4,163 people · home $228,900
- Courtland, MI6.1 mi · 9,005 people · home $359,300
- Pierson, MI6.7 mi · 3,363 people · home $243,700
- Solon, MI6.8 mi · 6,496 people · home $256,900
- Oakfield, MI8.6 mi · 6,107 people · home $347,200
- Ensley, MI8.9 mi · 2,603 people · home $247,700
- Rockford, MI9.0 mi · 6,142 people · home $334,400
Nelson questions
Is Nelson, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nelson scores better for retirees than 20% of Michigan towns and quieter than 34%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Nelson?
The median owner-occupied home in Nelson is valued at $253,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,735, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $569 a month.
What is the weather like in Nelson?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 64.1 inches of snow.
Does Nelson get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nelson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)