The Town FilesWells, Nevada
City in Elko County · population 1,237 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,300
- Household income
- $107,454
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 88°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 36.7
Wells is a city of 1,237 people in Elko County, Nevada. The median home is worth $205,300, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). It ranks easier by car than 87% of Nevada towns, quieter than 78% of Nevada towns, better for retirees than 75% of Nevada towns.
How Wells ranks
Percentile among Nevada towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nevada towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wells is worth $205,300, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $107,454, which is more affordable than 96% of Nevada towns. Median rent is $976 a month. 65.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wells | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,300 | $361,550 |
| Median rent | $976 | $1,386 |
| Median household income | $107,454 | $78,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 4.9× |
| Homeownership | 65.9% | 72.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.5% | — |
Who lives in Wells
| People | Wells | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 44.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 5.0% | 21.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.9% | 19.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 9.0% |
| Average commute | 37.0 min | 24.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 92.1% |
Weather in Wells
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 9.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 205 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wells since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Nevada town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 8, 1998 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on April 29, 1999.
Severe weather in Elko County since 1996
Elko County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4523: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3443: Covid-19 |
| July 17, 2017 | Fire | FM-5191: Oil Well Fire |
| March 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4307: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| October 3, 2011 | Fire | FM-2972: Indian Creek Fire |
Jobs and pay in Elko County
Elko County had 22,205 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,165 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Wells itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Wells
3 public schools with 303 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Elementary School | K-6 | 153 | 15.3 |
| Wells High School | 9-12 | 99 | 7.1 |
| Wells Jr High School | 7-8 | 51 | — |
Wells questions
Is Wells, Nevada a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wells scores better for retirees than 75% of Nevada towns and quieter than 78%. 5.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Wells?
The median owner-occupied home in Wells is valued at $205,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,454, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $976 a month.
What is the weather like in Wells?
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.1 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Wells get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wells since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 8, 1998. The typical Nevada town has had 1.
- 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)