The Town FilesWells, Minnesota
City in Faribault County · population 2,410 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,900
- Household income
- $60,156
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 46.3
Wells is a city of 2,410 people in Faribault County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $103,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 91% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 90% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Wells ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wells is worth $103,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $60,156, which is more affordable than 98% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $694 a month. 76.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wells | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,900 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $694 | $991 |
| Median household income | $60,156 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 76.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wells
| People | Wells | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Wells
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 4.6°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wells since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 17, 2010 about 8.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 38 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 12, 2013.
Severe weather in Faribault County since 1996
Faribault County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Faribault County
Faribault County had 4,549 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,879 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Wells itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Wells
2 public schools with 797 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 449 | 14.0 |
| UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 348 | 16.6 |
Towns near Wells
- Minnesota Lake, MN8.3 mi · 661 people · home $158,100
- Alden, MN9.7 mi · 583 people · home $128,400
- Pickerel Lake, MN15.3 mi · 643 people · home $312,300
- New Richland, MN15.8 mi · 1,229 people · home $137,000
- Mapleton, MN16.9 mi · 1,710 people · home $181,900
- Bancroft, MN19.4 mi · 792 people · home $260,300
- Albert Lea, MN19.4 mi · 18,492 people · home $157,500
- Blue Earth, MN19.7 mi · 3,174 people · home $143,600
Wells questions
Is Wells, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wells scores better for retirees than 90% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 51%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Wells?
The median owner-occupied home in Wells is valued at $103,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,156, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $694 a month.
What is the weather like in Wells?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 4.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 40.1 inches of snow.
Does Wells get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wells since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on June 17, 2010. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)