Signature · 44.8% low-access (91st pct)
Wells County, ND
Wells County sits in the upper national band on low-access (44.8%, +22.7 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 44.8%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 6.5%
- on SNAP
- 4K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Wells County, ND
LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-SEVERE 44.8% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +22.7 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 6.5% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.8% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: McKenzie County (+ 0.0 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Wells County sits in the upper national band (44.8%, #288 of 3,079).
- #288
- national by low-access %
- #22
- in ND
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 420
- food-desert residents
Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.
Signature read: 44.8% low-access (91st pct) (+22.7 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How Wells County compares nationally
Wells County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 44.8% low-access share outpaces 91% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #288 most-affected nationwide.
Wells County's elevated USDA tier split
2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
By USDA urbanicity classification, Wells County has 0 urban and 2 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.
Wells County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in North Dakota, not a full county-board reprint
- Nelson
Nelson 100%
100 % low-access
- Pembina
Pembina 45.9%
45.9 % low-access
- Emmons
Emmons 45.7%
45.7 % low-access
- Bottineau
Bottineau 45.4%
45.4 % low-access
- Wells
Wells 44.8%
44.8 % low-access
- McKenzie
McKenzie 44.8%
44.8 % low-access
- Rolette 9.6
Rolette 9.6%
9.6 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 2 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 4,207 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 1,884 |
| Low-Access Share | 44.8%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 420 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,890 |
| Median Household Income | $66,114 |
| Poverty Rate | 9.1%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 117 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 6.5%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.8%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.6% |
Slim SNAP store book in Wells County
Wells County has 5 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Supermarket lead with 2 locations (40% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Supermarket · 2
- hinrichs super value, harvey
- leevers foods 14005, harvey
Combination Grocery/Other · 1
- dollar general 23473, harvey
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- tracy's market, fessenden
Small Grocery Store · 1
- bowdon community cooperative, bowdon
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in North Dakota
One of 52 counties in North Dakota, 6 are shown here.
Compare Wells County vs Adams County → · All North Dakota counties →
Wells County inside a higher low-access state context
Wells County sits inside North Dakota (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context
Read with this county
Sources: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019) · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates · methodology · compiled .
PlainFoodAccess renders this county profile directly from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates), no number is typed in by an editor. Figures for Wells County, ND are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 38103. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-23. Primary sources: USDA Food Access Research Atlas and Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Note: This page presents public USDA and Census data for informational purposes and is not professional advice. Figures reflect the cited dataset vintages and may differ from the most recent local conditions. How this data is sourced & verified.