Wells County, North Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 22.0 | 3,876 people · 33rd most distressed in North Dakota
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Wells County, ND ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 22.0 — 3032nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where household incomes are relatively strong and poverty rates are low. Within North Dakota, it ranks 33rd of 53 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wells County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 33.7 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 33.7
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 30
Housing Cost Burden 30.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 42
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 8
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 39
Homeownership Rate 55
Economic Vitality 28.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 13
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 81
House Price Change (YoY) 77
Consumer Credit Distress 14.5
Debt in Collections 8
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 24
Credit Card Delinquency 29
Uninsured Rate 19
Subprime Credit Population 5
Legal Distress 14.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 14

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wells County
Wells County, ND 22.0 Healthy —
Benson County, ND 39.0 Normal +17.0
Stutsman County, ND 30.9 Healthy +8.9
Pierce County, ND 29.8 Healthy +7.7
Eddy County, ND 28.7 Healthy +6.7
Sheridan County, ND 25.4 Healthy +3.3
Foster County, ND 23.9 Healthy +1.8
Kidder County, ND 21.4 Healthy -0.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wells County
Slope County, ND 22.1 Healthy +0.0
Yellow Medicine County, MN 22.0 Healthy -0.0
Pepin County, WI 22.1 Healthy +0.1
Sweet Grass County, MT 22.2 Healthy +0.1
Davis County, IA 22.3 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Wells County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Wells County

Find an Attorney

State Bar Association of North Dakota Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar Association of North Dakota Lawyer Referral Service 701-255-1404

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Wells County residents at no cost.

Legal Services of North Dakota 1-800-634-5263

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in North Dakota →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Wells County, North Dakota?

    Wells County has a County Distress Index score of 22.0 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,032nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in North Dakota out of 53 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wells County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wells County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 33.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Wells County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wells County (22.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Benson County, ND (39.0); Stutsman County, ND (30.9); Pierce County, ND (29.8).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Healthy zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Wells County's score of 22.0 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Wells County's CDI score?

    Wells County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Wells County?

    Wells County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 3,876 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.