Population 3,890 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Wells County
Household size in Wells County
| Period | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.04 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.08 | 2.39 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.00 | 2.36 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.19 | 2.38 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.15 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Wells County is a place of small households, averaging 2.19 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.04, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Wells County
| Period | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.3 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.1 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.0 | 37.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.1 | 37.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −5.1 | −0.8 | +2.3 |
Wells County skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Wells County
| Period | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.8% | 8.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.7% | 8.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.2% of households in Wells County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other North Dakota counties, Wells County has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Wells County
Renters in Wells County
| Period | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.9% | 33.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.2% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.9% | 37.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Wells County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 66.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Wells County
| Period | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.7% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.7% | 12.0% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Wells County: 18.7% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Wells County
| Period | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1976 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +11 | +6 |
The housing in Wells County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1967, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Wells County has older homes than most North Dakota counties.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Wells County
| Period | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $407 | $573 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $463 | $716 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $686 | $862 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $658 | $1,031 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$251 | +$458 | +$606 |
Rent in Wells County runs $658 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 26.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Wells County
Bachelor's degrees in Wells County
| Period | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.9% | 27.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.5% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.2% | 31.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +6.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Wells County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.9%, against 35.6% nationally. Wells County has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five North Dakota counties.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Wells County
| Period | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.1% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.3% | 91.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.0% | 92.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.4% | 94.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Wells County have finished high school (92.4%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Even so, the rate is lower than in North Dakota overall (94.1%).
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Wells County
| Period | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.0% | 3.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 1.2% | 3.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.4% | 2.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 2.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −0.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Wells County has been strong: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. North Dakota as a whole looks much the same. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Wells County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells County | 2.19 | 46.1 | 5.2% | 22.9% | 18.7% | 1967 | $658 | 21.9% | 92.4% | 2.1% |
| Sheridan County | 1.91 | 51.5 | 3.9% | 16.0% | 19.5% | 1967 | $373 | 18.9% | 90.2% | 1.1% |
| Eddy County | 1.95 | 48.0 | 6.3% | 28.0% | 12.0% | 1968 | $600 | 30.7% | 93.6% | 2.3% |
| Foster County | 2.18 | 45.5 | 5.3% | 20.3% | 13.1% | 1973 | $772 | 28.6% | 92.9% | 1.0% |
| Benson County | 3.04 | 32.7 | 23.8% | 26.9% | 19.4% | 1972 | $606 | 22.7% | 85.7% | 3.0% |
| Ramsey County | 2.17 | 42.4 | 7.9% | 45.5% | 9.2% | 1976 | $761 | 25.3% | 92.9% | 1.2% |
| McHenry County | 2.33 | 44.2 | 5.3% | 18.6% | 19.9% | 1967 | $748 | 20.5% | 91.2% | 3.9% |
| McLean County | 2.25 | 47.8 | 5.6% | 15.8% | 24.1% | 1977 | $760 | 26.8% | 93.8% | 1.3% |
| Nelson County | 2.18 | 48.7 | 5.1% | 24.9% | 24.2% | 1962 | $696 | 29.9% | 92.7% | 1.0% |
| Griggs County | 2.17 | 53.2 | 6.6% | 23.4% | 27.2% | 1957 | $532 | 26.0% | 93.1% | 1.5% |
| Oliver County | 2.53 | 46.2 | 5.7% | 4.8% | 18.9% | 1975 | $756 | 23.8% | 94.8% | 1.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Concho County, TX · Thayer County, NE · Teton County, MT · Teton County, ID · Terry County, TX · Terrell County, TX · Stewart County, TN · Corson County, SD · Copper River Census Area, AK · Thomas County, KS
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Wells County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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