CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Wells County

North Dakota · 5,102 residents · 1,271 sq mi
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The short version

Wells County is home to 5,102 people in North Dakota. At a median age of 45.2, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Median home value sits at $40,500. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median rent is $267 a month. Owners hold 76% of the housing stock.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 45.2
US median: 35.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

5,102
−13%since 1990
from 5,864 in 1990
1990 – 2025
45.2
+7%since 1990
from 42.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
1,271 sq mi
Population, 19902024
4K4K5K5K6K19902000201020202024Wells County
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 54.4%(226)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 95.5%(283)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.7%(392)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197%(355)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 242.5%(126)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 347.5%(382)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415.2%(775)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.1%(668)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6411.2%(569)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 7412.2%(621)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 849%(457)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over4.9%(248)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$31,894
+30%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $18,568 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$17,932
+80%since 1990
from $9,957 in 1990
US average: $21,522
13.5%
−4.6 ptssince 1990
from 18.0% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$40,500
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $28,400 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$267
−12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $229 in 1990
US average: $602
76.5%
+1.8 ptssince 1990
from 74.7% in 1990
23.5% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic99.6%(5,838)
Black0.1%(4)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(6)
Asian0.2%(10)
2000
White, non-Hispanic98.9%(5,044)
Black0.1%(7)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(15)
Asian0.2%(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)
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)
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)
Ukrainian0.1%(5)
Arab0.1%(3)
British0.1%(3)
Austrian0.1%(2)
Section 05

Education

13.7%
+2.4 ptssince 1990
from 11.3% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
72.6%
+9.4 ptssince 1990
from 63.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
2.6%
+0.4 ptssince 1990
from 2.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.3 min
−50%since 1990
from 26.7 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.9%(487)
Married66.3%(1,351)
Widowed4.9%(100)
Divorced5%(101)
Women 15+
Never married13%(281)
Married62.7%(1,356)
Widowed19%(411)
Divorced5.2%(113)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

3.7%
−5.4 ptssince 2013
from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
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%
26.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 27.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
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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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wells County, North Dakota?

Wells County, North Dakota has about 5,102 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Wells County, North Dakota?

The typical household in Wells County, North Dakota earns about $31,894 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 $40,500, and the typical rent is about $267 a month.

How educated are people in Wells County, North Dakota?

About 13.7% 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 13.5% 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 762 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →