Save town Compare Needs More Love

Town guide

Nelson

A town of 1,765 people in Madison County, New York

Be the first to joinEarn karma for joining →

Town hallWanted · be the first Main streetWanted · be the first The libraryWanted · be the first Add a photoStart the Nelson album

1

Now in Nelson

What’s happening this week

This week

🕊️ 10 obituaries

＋ What’s happening in Nelson?

What’s happening in Nelson?＋

Ask Comment Event Photo

From your neighbors

What’s happening

＋ Write the first post

Weather

Coming up

Upcoming events

Nothing on the calendar yet

Put the next local happening — a market, a meeting, a concert — on the map.

Add an event →

Around town

Local news

Loading local headlines…

Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.

2

Around town

The places and views that make it Nelson

Explore places →

The Nelson album

0 of 12 shotsNeighbors document Nelson together

Town hall＋ Add Main street＋ Add The library＋ Add A local park＋ Add A favorite spot＋ Add Then & now＋ Add

Outdoors in Nelson

Parks & trails →

Map of Nelson: conserved land, trails and the top places to walk

Conserved land23%6,399 of 28,025 acres

Trails33 mi0.7 mi per sq mi

Parks & preserves43,625 conserved acres per 1,000 residents

1Stoney Pond State Forest18.8 mi of trails · 1,455 acres Directions

2Tioughnioga Wildlife Management Area9 mi of trails · 3,353 acres Directions

3Nelson Swamp Unique Area0.6 mi of trails · 771 acres

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

3

Know Nelson

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

Open the full guide →

Town numbers

ZIP codeSign in to add

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Nelson

Housing in Nelson

$550K Median sale price · Redfin, April 2026

The median sale price was $550,000 in April 2026.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Nelson

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Nelson for work: only 9% work in town. The top destinations are Cazenovia (12%), Syracuse (12%) and DeWitt (8%). Half commute less than 20 miles.

Cazenovia

12%

Syracuse

12%

DeWitt

8%

Hamilton

5%

9%Work in townlive and work in Nelson 20 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 729Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Nelson →

Health in Nelson

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 82% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with New York

11better than NY·3worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 3▼ 8 close Habits 1▲ 3 close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind 2▲ 3 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

4.3%Fewer uninsured adultsNY 7.9% · better 9.5%Fewer adults facing food insecurityNY 17.2% · better 10.3%More adults who have had cancerNY 7.7% · worse

Care nearby

Community Memorial HospitalHamilton · 11.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

Liberty Resources New YorkEast Syracuse · 19.4 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 13061, 13035, 13408 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Nelson →

Natural hazards in Nelson

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 19% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

1Does Nelson flood?paid flood claims since 2021 7Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Nelson MapNelson vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Nelson →

Climate in Nelson

Full climate →

Nelson has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 77°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 117 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

31° / 15°Winter

52° / 32°Spring

75° / 55°Summer

56° / 39°Fall

How much snow does Nelson get?About 117 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 9, with the last in spring around May 6.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.4° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Nelson →

Libraries near Nelson

Nearest: Morrisville Public LibraryMorrisville · 5.3 miles · 38 hrs a week

Famous people from NelsonWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Nelson.Meet them →

Where Nelson is

Explore map →

Imported town boundary

New York · NY · Madison CountyTown boundary on OpenStreetMap →

Around town

Bordering towns

Explore map →

Nelson Cazenovia Georgetown Eaton Fenner

WCazenovia SGeorgetown EEaton NFenner

Where Nelson residents work nearby:Cazenovia 12%Eaton 3%Work & commute →

Compare side by side:Nelson vs Cazenovia Nelson vs Georgetown Nelson vs Eaton Nelson vs Fenner

How things work in Nelson

All explainers →

No one has written Nelson’s explainers yetKnow how one of these works here? Each explainer earns +10 karma.

Town hall & decisionsTrash, recycling & yard wasteUtilities & servicesStreets, parking & getting aroundSafety & preparednessSchools & learningParks, sports & recreationHealth & emergency care