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Illinois›Lee County

NelsonIL

A town of 644.

Population
644
−11.3% since 2010
Median home value
$148K
Census ACS
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
56.8
years
Jobs based here
68
A commuter town
Small town

644 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
PalmyraSouth DixonColomaHarmonPalmyraSouth DixonColomaHarmonNelson

Nelson’s report card

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Upcoming events

Nothing on the calendar.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Nelson. Another town gets a different order.

Work & commute

Most working residents commute out of Nelson

Most working residents leave Nelson for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Dixon (17%), Sterling (13%) and Amboy (4%). Half commute less than 18 miles.

1%work in town

Where working residents work

In Nelson1%
Dixon17%
Sterling13%
Amboy4%
Rockford4%
18 mi
median commute distance
68
jobs based in Nelson
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate

Four seasons, pleasant summers

Nelson has cold winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 29 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

29″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter17–33°
Spring39–60°
Summer61–83°
Fall41–63°
Oct 19
typical first frost
Apr 21
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health

How healthy Nelson is

Nelson beats the Illinois average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9.

32 measures vs. Illinois
0 better23 too close to call9 worse
What stands outNelsonIL
More adults with COPD8.7%6.3%
More smokers15.8%12.1%
More adults with heart disease7.7%5.9%
Osf Saint Katharine Medical Center
6.2 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards

Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 49% of U.S. communities.

49risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
49Moderate riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A commuter town

99% of working residents leave Nelson for work

Where Nelson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

17% → Dixon Dixon 17% 13% → Sterling Sterling 13% 4% → Amboy Amboy 4% 4% → Rockford Rockford 4% 3% → Rock Falls Rock Falls 3% 3% → Chicago Chicago 3% Nelson · 1% stay
68jobs based in Nelson
1%of working residents work in town
18 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About Nelson

Village in Illinois, United States

Nelson is a village in Lee County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, Nelson had a population of 127.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Population
127
Area
0.3 sq mi

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