United States › North Dakota › Wells County COUNTY
Wells County North Dakota · 3,729 residents (2025 est.) · 1,271 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 3,890 people, Wells County is a county in North Dakota. At a median age of 46.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Density works out to 3 people per square mile. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $114,500. 1% of locals were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 5,102 in 2000
3,729 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 45.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K 4K 5K 5K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Wells County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $66,114
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,894 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,932 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.436 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 17.8%
Public administration 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 6.3%
Transportation & warehousing 3.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
Education & health services 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$114,500
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$648
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $267 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 76.5% in 2000
22.9% rent
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.12 people
+10%since 2009
from 1.93 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.5 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 98.9%(5,044)
Hispanic / Latino 0.3%(15)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 95.1%(3,698)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(22)
from 5 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 31 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 72.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 71.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 59.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 82.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 72.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 57.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 31.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 27.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 11.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 84.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 36.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 25.9%(55)
Gulf War (1990s) 10.4%(22)
Share of the 212 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Wells County Head to head
Compare Wells County to nearby counties WELLS COUNTY VS
Sheridan County
Income $62,639 −5%
Home value $110,300 −4%
Population 1,296 −65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WELLS COUNTY VS
Benson County
Income $64,033 −3%
Home value $90,000 −21%
Population 5,759 +54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WELLS COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income $50,850 −23%
Home value $124,000 +8%
Population 2,329 −38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WELLS COUNTY VS
Foster County
Income $87,831 +33%
Home value $167,500 +46%
Population 3,212 −14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Wells County, North Dakota? Wells County, North Dakota has about 3,890 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Wells County, North Dakota? The typical household in Wells County, North Dakota earns about $66,114 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Wells County, North Dakota expensive? In Wells County, North Dakota, the median home is worth about $114,500, and the typical rent is about $648 a month.
How educated are people in Wells County, North Dakota? About 21.7% of adults age 25 and over in Wells County, North Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Wells County, North Dakota? About 9.1% of people in Wells County, North Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Wells County, North Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Wells County, North Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,974 residents, a change of about -34 percent over that period.
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