Nelson City is a city in Douglas County, Minnesota, home to about 155 people across 0.7 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56308 and 56355.
Homes sold for a median of $175 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and all of them were seller’s markets.
Mostly Alexandria City; part is in Nelson City
Mostly Alexandria Township; part is in Nelson City
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Nelson City. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Nelson City’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)123 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Saint Cloud Regional Airport (STC)64 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Minneapolis, MN118 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL471 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Nelson City; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Nelson City had 182 residents in the 2020 census, up 6% since 2000.
It’s the 2061st largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Douglas County grew from 17,964 residents in 1900 to 39,006 in 2020.
Douglas County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 80°F in summer, and winter lows average 2°F. About 24.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Alexandria Muni Ap, MN weather station (7 miles away).
18,208 jobs at 1,394 businesses in Douglas County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
416 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Nelson City’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 52 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 61 |
| Dentists | 33 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 66 |
| Mental health providers | 105 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 54 |
| Optometrists | 14 |
| Chiropractors | 31 |
| Pharmacies | 14 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores
Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Alexandria Public School District, Region 4-Lakes Country Service Coop, Runestone Area Education District and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Education CenterAlexandria | Pre-K | 114 | Public | 5.0 mi |
| Lakes Country Academy - ALEXAlexandria | K–6 | 7 | Special Education | 6.0 mi |
| Lincoln ElementaryAlexandria | K–5 | 481 | Public | 6.2 mi |
| Voyager ElementaryAlexandria | K–5 | 446 | Public | 4.8 mi |
| Woodland Elementary SchoolAlexandria | K–5 | 410 | Public | 5.0 mi |
| Discovery Middle SchoolAlexandria | 6–8 | 898 | Public | 4.1 mi |
| Middle Level Learning CenterAlexandria | 7–8 | — | Alternative Education | 4.5 mi |
| Runestone Alternative SchoolAlexandria | 7–12 | 22 | Alternative Education | 4.5 mi |
| Alexandria Area High SchoolAlexandria | 9–12 | 1,315 | Public | 6.3 mi |
| Bridgeway Career AcademyAlexandria | 9–12 | 19 | Alternative Education | 7.4 mi |
| Kalon Prep AcademyAlexandria | 9–12 | 141 | Charter | 6.3 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion Lutheran SchoolAlexandria | Pre-K–8 | 162 | Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod | 5.1 mi |
| Alexandria Community Christian SchoolAlexandria | K–12 | 69 | Christian (no specific denomination) | 3.0 mi |
| St Marys SchoolAlexandria | K–6 | 268 | Roman Catholic | 5.4 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Alexandria City, La Grand, Alexandria Township, Carlos Township, Hudson, Lake Mary, Ida, Forada, Belle River and Osakis Township.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.