1st Advantage MortgageIn Wells County, North Dakota, the typical household earns $66,114 a year and the typical rent is $648. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Wells County
- The Wells County job picture
- Household income in Wells County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Wells County
- Regional comparison for Wells County
- Places inside Wells County
- What a median Wells County budget can carry
- Reading the Wells County data as a borrower
- More Wells County figures
- Lender oversight for Wells County
- Steps before you apply in Wells County
- More guides for Wells County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Wells County
With an estimated 3,890 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Wells County ranks 28th of 53 in North Dakota for population. Land area is 1,271 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Wells County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (7 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Harvey, with about 1,679 residents, or 43% of the county. With so few households sampled, Wells County estimates can move a lot between releases.
The Wells County job picture
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 18%. Compared with North Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (18% against 8%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Wells County | Difference from North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.8% | -1.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 17.8% | +9.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | +0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Household income in Wells County
The median household income in Wells County is $66,114; statewide it is $76,657, so Wells County runs 14% below North Dakota as a whole. That places it 39th among North Dakota's 53 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Wells County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.8% | +9.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.3% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -7.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.7% | +0.1 pts |
Some 31% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 9.1%, 2 points lower than the state's 10.8%. A household earning below the $66,114 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Wells County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $648 in Wells County versus $954 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $114,500, about 1.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%.
| Home costs | Wells County | North Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $648/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $114,500 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.6% | 6.6% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Regional comparison for Wells County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (30 to 47 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Wells County; Foster County is highest at $87,831 and Eddy County lowest at $50,850.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells County | - | $66,114 | $648/mo | 77% |
| Sheridan County, ND | 30 mi | $62,639 | $373/mo | 84% |
| Benson County, ND | 37 mi | $64,033 | $588/mo | 73% |
| Eddy County, ND | 38 mi | $50,850 | $590/mo | 72% |
| Foster County, ND | 39 mi | $87,831 | $780/mo | 80% |
| Kidder County, ND | 44 mi | $65,610 | $853/mo | 76% |
| Pierce County, ND | 47 mi | $59,365 | $850/mo | 82% |
Places inside Wells County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 62% of Wells County residents live in one of the 8. No Wells County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey | city | 1,679 | $42,697 | $649 | 18 mi |
| Fessenden | city | 433 | $65,962 | $547 | 5 mi |
| Sykeston | city | 114 | $37,422 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Bowdon | city | 90 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Heimdal | CDP | 40 | $163,000 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Hurdsfield | city | 35 | $110,250 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Cathay | city | 17 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Hamberg | city | 3 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
What a median Wells County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Wells County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Wells County: $5,510
- Rent at the median, $648, takes 12% of that
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,721 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Wells County data as a borrower
What the Wells County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Rent squeeze. 48% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Wells County borrower sees (free reports).
More Wells County figures
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.7%, against 6.5% for North Dakota.
| People and households | Wells County | North Dakota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.7% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.7% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Wells County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 64.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Lender oversight for Wells County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Wells County borrowers answers to the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
Steps before you apply in Wells County
Steps that save money for Wells County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Wells County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Wells County
The North Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wells County earn?
The median is $66,114; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Wells County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $648 against $954 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Wells County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Wells County?
By population: Harvey, Fessenden, Sykeston, Bowdon, Heimdal. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Can Wells County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every North Dakota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.