Home Insurance in Nelson, Minnesota
With a median home value of $157,500, Nelson is 51% lower than the Douglas County median.
The typical home in Nelson was built around 1974. About 36% of homes were built before 1960, about 15 points above Douglas County's 21%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
The housing stock in Nelson is 68% single-family homes, 17% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 15% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
About 69% of owner-occupied homes in Nelson have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 1%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 55% of occupied homes in Nelson are owner-occupied.
60% of homes in Nelson are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
Douglas County had 9 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. Its top FEMA-rated hazard is winter weather (Relatively High). See the full Douglas County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
In Minnesota, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,988 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $157,500 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1974 |
| Owner-occupied share | 55% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 69% |
| Top county hazard | Winter Weather (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Douglas County | 9 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,988 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)