Wells, NV

City in Elko County, NV, US

By Neilsberg Research

Last updated May 1, 2026

Key Indicators

A quick look at key numbers

Population

1,352

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates

Median Age

36.7

years ∙ half population younger than 36.7, half older

Diversity Index

65.1%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Nativity

foreign-born population

94%Native

6% Foreign-born

Geographic Context

Location, size, and surroundings

About

Wells is a city within Elko County, Nevada, United States.

Location

City in Elko County, NV, US

Co-ordinates

DEC41.113155° N, 114.953537° W

DMS41° 06′ 47.36″ N, 114° 57′ 12.73″ W

Population Density & area

195.9/sq mi (75.62/km²)

Total Area

6.9 sq mi (17.88 km²)

Land Area

6.9 sq mi (17.88 km²) · 100%

Water Area

0 sq mi (0 km²) · 0%

Demographics & Living

Who lives here, how households are formed, and community composition

Population Composition

Key characteristics of the population

Sex Distribution

46.1% male

Male 46.1%

Female 53.9%

males per 100 females

Wells 85.5

Elko County 108.6

Nevada 101.5

Nativity

foreign-born population

94%Native

6% Foreign-born

% Foreign-born

Wells 6%

Elko County 8.5%

Nevada 19.1%

Age Distribution

How the population is spread across age groups

Median Age

36.7

years ∙ half population younger than 36.7, half older

Wells

36.7

Elko County

35.7

Nevada

39.1

Dependency ratio

49.2

dependents per 100 working-age adults

Wells 49.2

Elko County 65.5

Nevada 63.2

AGE DISTRIBUTION

Distribution of age group

Median age

	Wells	Elko County	Nevada
Age Group
Children (Under 18)	28%	26.4%	21.7%
Working age (18-64)	67%	60.5%	61.3%
Senior (65+)	5%	13.1%	17%
Dependency ratio
Total dependency ratio	49.2	65.5	63.2
Child dependency ratio	41.8	43.7	35.5
Old-age dependency ratio	7.4	21.7	27.7

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic makeup and how it compares

Race & Ethnicity

White

47.9%

Black

3.4%

Asian

Hispanic

32.5%

Other

16.2%

Note: White, Black, and Asian refer to individuals belonging to a single race and not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics may be of any race.

Diversity Index

65.1%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Wells 65.1%

Elko County 55.4%

Nevada 69.2%

Note: The Diversity Index (DI), based on the Blau Index, measures the probability that two randomly selected individuals differ in race and ethnicity. Values range from 0 (no diversity) to 1 (high diversity) and are shown as percentages.

RACIAL & ETHNIC COMPOSITION

Race & Ethnicity

Percentage of Wells population

	Wells	Elko County	Nevada
Hispanic or Latino	32.5%	26%	29.6%
Mexican	32.5%	23.4%	21.4%
Puerto Rican	0%	0.2%	1%
Cuban	0%	0%	1.3%
Other Hispanic / Latino	0%	2.5%	6%
Not Hispanic or Latino	67.5%	74%	70.4%
One race	60.3%	68.5%	64.4%
White	47.9%	61.1%	44.8%
Black or African American	3.4%	0.8%	9%
American Indian and Alaska Native	8.9%	3.5%	0.6%
Asian	0%	1.4%	8.8%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	0.1%	0.2%	0.7%
Some Other Race	0%	1.4%	0.6%
Two or more races (Multiracial)	7.2%	5.5%	6%

Household & Families Composition

Household size, type, and family structure

Household structure

70.1% family

Family 70.1%

Non family 29.9%

% family households

Wells 70.1%

Elko County 66.9%

Nevada 63.8%

Average household size

3.51

persons per household

Wells

3.51

Elko County

2.71

Nevada

2.62

Household & Family COMPOSITION

Households

Percentage of Wells population

	Wells	Elko County	Nevada
Total households	381	19,627	1,202,593
Average houshold size	3.51	2.71	2.62
Family households	267	13,123	767,020
Average family size	4.45	3.32	3.23
Married couple family	240	10,047	528,863
Other families	27	3,076	238,157
Male householder	0	1,092	81,284
Female householder	27	1,984	156,873
Non-family households	114	6,504	435,573
One-person households	101	5,383	336,506
Male householder	51	3,208	172,389
Senior (65+) living alone	27	775	56,025
Female householder	50	2,175	164,117
Senior (65+) living alone	9	892	75,917
Other living arrangements	13	1,121	99,067

Housing Profile

Housing stock, ownership, rentals, and cost burdens

Total housing units

515

housing units

Wells 515

Elko County 22,177

Nevada 1,326,471

Occupancy status

74% occupied

Occupied 74%

Vacant 26%

vacancy rate

Wells 26%

Elko County 11.5%

Nevada 9.3%

Housing Characteristics

How the housing supply is structured and used

Types of Housing unit

62.3%

Single family houses

62.3%

Apartments in multi-unit structures

13.9%

Mobile homes

23.9%

Boat, RV, van, etc

Median Year Built

1982

Half of houses were built before 1982, and half after.

Historic ∙ 1939 or earlier

10.9%

Postwar & mid-century ∙ 1940 - 1969

9.7%

Late 20th century ∙ 1970 - 1999

65%

Modern ∙ 2000 or later

14.4%

Note: Median year built reflects occupied units only; distribution includes all units.

Housing Characteristics

Units, rooms & bedrooms

Physical characteristics of housing units

	Wells	Elko County	Nevada
Rooms per unit
Median rooms	5.1	5.3	5.3
1–3 rooms	18.5%	12.9%	17.4%
4–6 rooms	55.3%	57.1%	54.9%
7+ rooms	26.2%	30%	27.6%
Bedrooms
No bedroom / studio	4.9%	4.9%	3.7%
1 bedroom	6.4%	6.4%	9.9%
2 bedrooms	23.9%	21.2%	24.3%
3 bedrooms	58.6%	44.8%	37.8%
4+ bedrooms	6.2%	22.8%	24.3%
At a glance
Median year built	1982	1991	1996
Total housing units	515	22,177	1,326,471

Occupancy Profile

Who is inside and how they use it

Homeownership

65.9% owners

Renter-occupied 34.1%

Owner-occupied 65.9%

homeownership rate

Wells 65.9%

Elko County 71.4%

Nevada 60%

Average household size

3.61

Owner-occupied

3.31

Renter-occupied

owner-occupied average size

Wells 3.61

Elko County 2.78

Nevada 2.68

Housing Characteristics

Occupied unit characteristics

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Wells	Elko County	Nevada
Total occupied units	381	19,627	1,202,593
Year moved in
2020 or later	24.4%	22.7%	29.8%
2010 to 2019	58.5%	42.5%	46.5%
2000 to 2009	3.7%	18.1%	14.5%
1999 or earlier	13.4%	16.7%	9.3%
Occupants per room
1.00 or fewer	89.8%	96.1%	95.6%
1.01 to 1.50	10.2%	2.8%	2.8%
1.51 or more	0%	1%	1.6%
Vehicles availability
No vehicles	0.8%	5.6%	7%
1 vehicle	20.2%	24.8%	34.6%
2 vehicles	36.5%	36.4%	36%
3 or more vehicles	42.5%	33.2%	22.3%
House heating fuel used
Gas	5.2%	49.7%	61.9%
Electricity	77.4%	30.7%	34.7%
Solar	0.5%	0.1%	0.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene etc	0%	0.7%	0.4%
All other fuels	16.8%	18.6%	1.5%
No fuel used	0%	0.1%	0.7%
Selected characteristics
Lacking complete plumbing	0%	0.5%	0.4%
Lacking complete kitchen	0%	0.6%	0.8%
No telephone service available	0%	0.5%	1.1%

Housing Value

What owner-occupied units are worth

Median home value

$205,300

owner-occupied units

Median value(USD)

Wells

$205,300

Elko County

$301,400

Nevada

$435,400

Housing Cost Burden

8.5%

of homeowners with a mortgage are cost-burdened

% Cost-Burdened Households

Owners with a mortgage

8.5%

Owners without a mortgage

21.3%

Renters

22.8%

Note: Households spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs are considered cost-burdened.

Financial characteristics

Property value and housing costs

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Wells	Elko County	Nevada
Property value
Median Value	$205,300	$301,400	$435,400
Under $100,000	10%	17.6%	5.8%
$100,000 - $200,000	35.8%	11.1%	4.3%
$200,000 - $300,000	50.2%	20.9%	10.9%
$300,000 - $500,000	3.6%	42.3%	43.5%
$500,000 - $1,000,000	0.4%	6.6%	29.7%
$1,000,000 and more	0%	1.4%	5.7%
Owner-occupied households
With a mortgage	68.1%	54.3%	65.8%
Without a mortgage	31.9%	45.7%	34.2%
Median monthly owner costs
With a mortgage	$1,380	$1,811	$1,932
Without a mortgage	$467	$534	$558
Gross rent
Median rent	$976	$1,164	$1,597

Education Profile

How educated is the community and how education pays off

Adults with a college degree

9.9%

of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

Wells 9.9%

Elko County 17.8%

Nevada 27.9%

Adults without a high school diploma

29.9%

of adults (25+) without a high school diploma

Wells 29.9%

Elko County 12.8%

Nevada 12.5%

School Enrollment

Who is enrolled in school and at what level

School enrollment

338

population (age 3+) enrolled in school

Nursery / Preschool

K–12

92%

College / Undergraduate

Graduate / Professional

College-going rate (18-24 yr olds)

of 18-24-year-olds in college or graduate school

Wells

Elko County

21.3%

Nevada

29.6%

Enrollment & school type

Enrollment levels, college-going rate, and public vs private school split

Population 3+ currently enrolled in a school

	Wells	Elko County	Nevada
Total enrolled (age 3+)	338	13,272	704,649
Nursery / preschool	0%	5.1%	4.3%
K–12	92%	78.7%	72.2%
Kindergarten	5.9%	5%	5.1%
Elementary: Grades 1–4	28.7%	24.1%	20.7%
Elementary: Grades 5–8	23.7%	24.5%	23%
High School: Grades 9–12	33.7%	25.1%	23.3%
College or graduate school	8%	16.2%	23.5%
College, undergraduate	8%	13.1%	18.3%
Graduate, professional school	0%	3.1%	5.2%
College-going rate · 18-24 yr olds	0%	21.3%	29.6%
School type
Public school	91.7%	84.2%	85.6%
Private school	8.3%	15.8%	14.4%

Education Attainment by Level & Gender

What is the highest level of education completed among adults

Education attainment

887

population 25 years and over

Total adults (25+)

Less than 9th grade

21.9%

9th-12th, no diploma

HS graduate

29.7%

Some college no degree

21.4%

Associates degree

9.1%

Bachelors degree

8.2%

Graduate or professional degree

1.7%

Attainment by gender

Male vs Female

Adults (25+) · Share within each education level

% male · % female

Less than 9th grade

27.8% · 72.2%

9th-12th, no diploma

45.1% · 54.9%

HS graduate

44.1% · 55.9%

Some college no degree

33.7% · 66.3%

Associates degree

71.6% · 28.4%

Bachelors degree

84.9% · 15.1%

Graduate or professional degree

100% · 0%

Educational Attainment Overview

Distribution and key education attainment rates for adults (25+)

Highest credential completed · adults 25+

	Wells	Elko County	Nevada
Population (25+)	887	35,210	2,236,952
Less than 9th grade	21.9%	5.9%	5.5%
9th–12th, no diploma	8%	6.9%	7%
High school diploma or GED	29.7%	34.6%	27.6%
Some college, no degree	21.4%	24.7%	23.3%
Associate's degree	9.1%	10.2%	8.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	9.9%	17.8%	27.9%
Bachelor's degree	8.2%	11.7%	18.1%
Graduate or professional	1.7%	6.1%	9.8%
High School or higher	70.1%	87.2%	87.5%

Earnings by education level

percentage as applicable

Median Earnings

$34,776

Median earnings for adults 25+, by level

Less than HS graduate

$—

HS graduate

$48,854

Some college or associates

$33,708

Bachelors degree

$—

Graduate or professional degree

$—

Poverty Rate

63.6%

for ages 25+, with bachelors degree or higher

Less than HS graduate

50.2%

HS graduate

17.9%

Some college or associates

11.4%

Bachelors degree or higher

63.6%

Outcomes by Education Level

Earnings and poverty rates across education levels (25+)

Adults 25+

	Wells	Elko County	Nevada
Median earnings
Population 25+, with earnings	$34,776	$52,660	$47,861
Less than high school graduate	$—	$32,650	$35,906
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	$48,854	$45,303	$40,410
Some college or associate's degree	$33,708	$58,153	$46,240
Bachelor's degree	$—	$63,605	$62,137
Graduate or professional degree	$—	$64,469	$83,858
Poverty rates
Less than high school graduate	50.2%	16.9%	18.5%
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	17.9%	13%	13.9%
Some college or associate's degree	11.4%	5%	10.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher	63.6%	4.1%	6.1%

Insights for Wells, by topic

Income By year By race By age By gender

Population By year By race By age By gender

About Neilsberg Research

Neilsberg Research team are data scientists with expertise in processing, analysis and visualization of big data helping small businesses make right decisions.

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