COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Wells County

North Dakota · 5,864 residents · 1,271 sq mi

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The short version

Wells County is a county of 5,864 people in North Dakota. At a median age of 42.4, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Median home value sits at $28,400. 75% of homes are owner-occupied. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Renters pay $229 a month at the median.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 42.4

US median: 33.0

Less educated

11% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 8%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

5,864

+15%vs 2000

vs 5,102 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

42.4

−6%vs 2000

vs 45.2 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

1,271 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20244K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 56.3%(367)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 97.2%(422)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 146.8%(400)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 195.8%(338)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 242.8%(164)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3412.9%(756)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4411.3%(662)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5411%(644)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 6411.9%(699)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 7411.1%(650)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 849.2%(542)

US avg: 4%

85 and over3.8%(220)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$18,568

−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $31,894 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$9,957

−44%vs 2000

vs $17,932 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

18.0%

+4.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 13.5% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$28,400

−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $40,500 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$229

+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $267 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

74.7%

−1.8 ptsvs 2000

vs 76.5% in 2000

25.3% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic98.9%(5,044)

Black0.1%(7)

Hispanic / Latino0.3%(15)

Asian0.2%(12)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic99.6%(5,838)

Black0.1%(4)

Hispanic / Latino0.1%(6)

Asian0.2%(10)

Other0.2%(12)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican0.2%(7)

Puerto Rican0.1%(5)

Dominican0.1%(4)

Asian origin

Chinese0.2%(6)

Filipino0.1%(3)

Ancestry

German53.7%(2,090)

Norwegian24.5%(952)

Irish6.2%(240)

Russian4.4%(173)

American3.8%(149)

English2.6%(102)

Polish1.6%(63)

French Canadian1.4%(56)

Swedish1.4%(54)

Scottish1.4%(53)

French1.1%(44)

Czech1.1%(42)

+ 11 more ancestry groups with data

Belgian0.9%(35)

Italian0.4%(16)

Dutch0.2%(9)

Welsh0.2%(9)

Danish0.2%(6)

Scotch-Irish0.1%(5)

Ukrainian0.1%(5)

Arab0.1%(3)

British0.1%(3)

Austrian0.1%(2)

Hungarian0%(1)

RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Irish population · Largest Russian population · Largest American population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

11.3%

−2.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 13.7% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

63.2%

−9.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 72.6% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

2.3%

−0.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 2.6% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

26.7 min

+100%vs 2000

vs 13.3 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married28%(428)

Married60.5%(927)

Widowed1.2%(19)

Divorced10.3%(157)

Women 15+

Never married17.9%(284)

Married55.4%(881)

Widowed16.9%(269)

Divorced9.8%(156)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

3.7%

−5.4 ptssince 2013

from 9.1% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

48.6%

−8.7 ptssince 2020

from 57.3% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

31.2%

−0.2 ptssince 2020

from 31.4% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

26.2%

−1.2 ptssince 2020

from 27.4% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

17.1%

+5.8 ptssince 2020

from 11.3% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

2.4%

−1.0 ptssince 2020

from 3.4% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

78.9%

−5.9 ptssince 2020

from 84.8% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

40.2%

+4.0 ptssince 2020

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)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)10.4%(22)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era53.3%(113)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War1.9%(4)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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