1st Advantage MortgageThe median Wells County household earns $71,957, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Indiana before sharing details.
On this page
- Wells County, IN: the basics
- Household income in Wells County
- Housing costs in Wells County
- The Wells County job picture
- The counties around Wells County
- Places inside Wells County
- A Wells County household budget, worked through
- Wells County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Wells County
- Steps before you apply in Wells County
- Who licenses lenders for Wells County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Wells County, IN: the basics
Roughly 28,420 residents live in Wells County, Indiana, 56th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. It covers 368 square miles of land, or about 77 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Fort Wayne, IN metropolitan area. Bluffton is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 10,529 people (37% of the county total).
Household income in Wells County
At $71,957, the typical Wells County household income is 10% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 31st among Indiana's 92 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Wells County | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.5% | -2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.3% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.3% | -0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -3.4 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 7.2%, 5 points lower than the state's 12.3%. For a borrower in Wells County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Housing costs in Wells County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $813 in Wells County versus $1,062 statewide. 35% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $197,600, about 2.7 times the median household income. 76% of Wells County households own their home and 24% rent. Median construction year: 1973.
| Wells County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $813/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $197,600 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.8% | 4.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Wells County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The Wells County job picture
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Wells County residents work in education and health care and 22% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 22% locally and 18% for Indiana. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Wells County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 22.5% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.3% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -2.1 pts |
| Other services | 6.0% | +1.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Wells County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The counties around Wells County
Six nearby counties, 15 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Allen County leads the group on income ($70,737), Blackford County trails ($51,326), and Wells County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells County | - | $71,957 | $813/mo | 76% |
| Adams County, IN | 15 mi | $65,289 | $833/mo | 83% |
| Huntington County, IN | 15 mi | $66,301 | $879/mo | 77% |
| Blackford County, IN | 19 mi | $51,326 | $699/mo | 74% |
| Jay County, IN | 24 mi | $54,969 | $770/mo | 80% |
| Allen County, IN | 26 mi | $70,737 | $1,021/mo | 69% |
| Grant County, IN | 28 mi | $53,522 | $853/mo | 73% |
Places inside Wells County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Wells County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 14,946 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Wells County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluffton | city | 10,529 | $57,539 | $732 | 2 mi |
| Ossian | town | 3,384 | $71,563 | $906 | 10 mi |
| Zanesville | town | 488 | $67,212 | $693 | 13 mi |
| Uniondale | town | 309 | $84,375 | $1,042 | 7 mi |
| Poneto | town | 174 | $63,750 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Vera Cruz | town | 62 | $70,000 | $1,125 | 7 mi |
A Wells County household budget, worked through
Wells County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,996 before taxes
- 14% goes to median rent ($813)
- $1,586: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Wells County's.
Wells County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Wells County | Indiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.9% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.9% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.2% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Wells County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
Before borrowing in Wells County
Based on the Wells County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Wells County borrower sees (free reports).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Steps before you apply in Wells County
Steps that save money for Wells County residents:
- Price the Wells County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Wells County residents
Wells County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Indiana guide.
Related local guides
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Wells County?
$71,957 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,957 for Indiana. It ranks 31st of 92 in the state.
What do renters pay in Wells County?
$813 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Wells County?
By population: Bluffton, Ossian, Zanesville, Uniondale, Poneto. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Can Wells County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Indiana county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Wells County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Indiana it is the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.