HomeNorth DakotaWells County
Wells County, North Dakota: commercial real estate data.
Wells County, North Dakota had an estimated 3,803 residents on July 1, 2024, down 4.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 3,982, across 1,271 square miles. County output reached $443.7 m in 2024, 168 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 2 7(a) approvals worth $390,100 since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Wells County
How many people live in Wells County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20243,890
- Households1,787
- Average household size2.18
- Median household income$66,114
- Median age46.3
- Median gross rent$648 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$114,500
- Home value to household income1.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income11.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher21.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree4.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over2,718
- Population under 18910
- Share under 1823.4 percent
- Population 65 and over1,040
- Share 65 and over26.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 641,940
- Civilian labor force1,809
- Unemployment rate2.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.7 percent
- Rank by population among North Dakota counties28th of 53
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2973rd of 3,222
Wells County is the 28th largest of 53 North Dakota counties by population. A median home costs 1.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 26.7 percent against 23.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Wells County
Is Wells County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 20243,803
- Census 2020 base population3,982
- Population change since the 2020 census base-4.50 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-63
- Births, 202424
- Deaths, 202461
- Natural change, 2024-37
- Net domestic migration, 2024-33
- Net international migration, 20245
- Total net migration, 2024-28
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-39
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2946th of 3,144
The county has lost 4.50 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Wells County
Where are people moving to Wells County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving77
- People arriving, from those returns156
- Tax returns filed by households leaving68
- Net household movement9
- Adjusted gross income arriving$4.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$1.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$61,403
- Average income of a leaving household$50,029
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|
Households arriving report $11,374 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Wells County
What is the Wells County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$443.7 m
- County GDP, 2023$411.3 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.9 percent
- GDP change over five years56.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Dakota areas BEA publishes25th of 53
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2473rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$114,074
Output grew 7.9 percent in the latest year and 56.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Wells County
Employment by industry in Wells County
- Covered employment, annual average1,438
- Establishments reporting207
- Average annual pay$49,991
- Average weekly wage$961
- Health care and social assistance, employment354
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$47,498
- Wholesale trade, employment225
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$85,366
- Accommodation and food services, employment68
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$12,015
- Other services, except public administration, employment51
- Other services, except public administration, average annual pay$55,963
- Manufacturing, employment49
- Construction, employment39
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 354 | 16 | $47,498 |
| Wholesale trade | 225 | 22 | $85,366 |
| Accommodation and food services | 68 | 14 | $12,015 |
| Other services, except public administration | 51 | 13 | $55,963 |
| Manufacturing | 49 | 9 | $49,093 |
| Construction | 39 | 20 | $45,911 |
| Information | 21 | 5 | $33,802 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 16 | 10 | $55,981 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 354 jobs, 24.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Wells County
How many businesses are in Wells County?
- Establishments, all industries168
- Employment at those establishments1,145
- Annual payroll$53.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents43.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Wells County
Building permits in Wells County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241
- Declared construction value permitted$230,000
- Single family units authorized1
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$230,000
- Units authorized per 1,000 households0.6
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Wells County
SBA loans in Wells County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded2
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$390,100
- Average 7(a) approval$195,050
- Median 7(a) approval$195,050
- Largest single approval$215,100
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2
- Jobs per approval1.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active2
- Distinct industries receiving approvals2
- Median 7(a) term90 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer0.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms0
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter2
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$199,000
- Average 504 approval$99,500
- Median 504 approval$99,500
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval7.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved70.4
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$589,100
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Wells County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Wells County
Do SBA loans in Wells County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded0
- Paid in full0
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure2
Only 0 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Wells County
How large is Wells County?
- Land area1,271 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Dakota counties23rd of 53
- Width, east to west37.5 mi
- Height, north to south35.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land3
- Establishments per square mile0.13
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Wells County
Flood risk in Wells County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Wells CountyParticipating, community 385374
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate80.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Wells County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, Wells County (community 385374), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Wells County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 80.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Wells County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Wells County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20243,890
- Households1,787
- Average household size2.18
- Median household income$66,114
- Median age46.3
Common questions
Wells County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Wells County, North Dakota?
The Census Bureau estimates 3,803 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 3,890, in 1,787 households, ranking 28th of 53 North Dakota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Wells County's population growing?
The population has fallen 4.50 percent since the 2020 census base of 3,982, to 3,803 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 24 births against 61 deaths, with net migration of -28. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Wells County?
$66,114. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $114,500, which is 1.7 times income, and median gross rent is $648 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Wells County?
168 establishments, employing 1,145 people with an annual payroll of $53.5 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Wells County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 354 jobs, 24.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 1,438 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,991, or $961 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Wells County?
2 7(a) approvals totaling $390,100 since FY2020, across 2 lenders, with a median approval of $195,050, plus 2 504 approvals worth $199,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Wells County?
1 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $230,000. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Wells County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Are traffic counts available for Wells County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Wells County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Wells County
Cities and places in Wells.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Wells County. All 8 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey | city | 1,679 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Fessenden | city | 433 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sykeston | city | 114 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bowdon | city | 90 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Heimdal | CDP | 40 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hurdsfield | city | 35 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cathay | city | 17 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hamberg | city | 3 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |