STATS Indiana

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Wells County, Indiana

Formed in 1837 and named for Captain William Wells, a scout for General Anthony Wayne

County Seat: Bluffton

Largest City: Bluffton (2023 population: 10,467)

Population per Square Mile: 77.57

Square Miles: 368.10

Go to county's in.gov site

Population over TimeNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Yesterday (2020)28,180570.4%6,484,050
Today (2023)28,555560.4%6,862,199
Tomorrow (2030 projection)*29,242560.4%7,013,509
Percent Change 2020 to Today1.3%24 1.1%

*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center

Components of Population Change, 2022-2023NumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Net Domestic Migration26622 4,599
Net International Migration2442 17,869
Natural Increase (births minus deaths)-3344-0.4%7,508

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Population Estimates by Age, 2023NumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Preschool (0 to 4)1,776526.2%5.9%
School Age (5 to 17)5,2675118.4%17.2%
College Age (18 to 24)2,165567.6%9.6%
Young Adult (25 to 44)6,9515524.3%25.8%
Older Adult (45 to 64)6,9065824.2%24.2%
Seniors (65 and older)5,4905619.2%17.2%
Median Age39.7  Median Age = 38.2

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center

Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2023NumberRank of Pct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
American Indian or Alaska Native Alone87700.3%0.5%
Asian Alone177500.6%2.9%
Black Alone354491.2%10.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone20450.1%0.1%
White27,5205696.4%83.7%
Two or More Race Groups397561.4%2.5%
Hispanic or Latino Origin (can be of any race)    
Non-Hispanic27,3735695.9%91.2%
Hispanic1,182474.1%8.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Household TypesNumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Households in 2022 (Includes detail not shown below)11,15555100.0%100.0%
Married With Children2,4114921.6%18.1%
Married Without Children3,7515533.6%29.6%
Single Parents755626.8%9.0%
Living Alone3,2585229.2%29.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

HousingNumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Total Housing Units in 2023 (estimate)12,15558100.0%100.0%
Total Housing Units in 2022 (includes vacant units)11,96158100.0%100.0%
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units)
8,6225572.1%63.5%
Median Value (2022)$161,30044  
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units)
2,5335521.2%27.1%
Median Rent (2022)$60049  

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

EducationNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
School Enrollment (2023/2024 Total Reported) 5,168480.5%1,124,877
Public5,104450.5%1,032,265
Adults (25+ in 2022 ACS)18,997580.4%4,532,091
with High School diploma or higher93.3%8 90%
with B.A. or higher degree19.1%45 28.2%

Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Income and PovertyNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2022$51,3435288.0%58,323
Median Household Income in 202268,87928103.2%$66,768
Poverty Rate in 20229.1%7972.8%12.5%
Poverty Rate among Children under 1812.1%7478.6%15.4%
Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 202314590.3%4,144
Food Stamp Recipients in 20231,475720.2%601,912
Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2023/20242,105570.4%497,203

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education

Health and Vital StatisticsNumberRank of Percent of StateIndiana
Births, 2021317560.4%79,946
Births to Teens, 202114590.4%3,845
Deaths, 2019290620.4%66,005

Source: Indiana State Department of Health

Labor Force, 2023NumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Total Resident Labor Force14,424550.4%3,401,387
Employed14,036540.4%3,288,017
Unemployed388610.3%113,370
Annual Unemployment Rate2.77681.8%3.3
September 2024 Unemployment Rate3.67083.7%4.3

Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development

Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2022 EmploymentPct Dist.
in County
Earnings ($000)Pct Dist.
In County
Avg. Earnings Per Job
Total by place of work14,716100.0%$800,990100.0%$54,430
Wage and Salary11,31376.9%$554,44869.2%$49,010
Farm Proprietors4973.4%$50,0336.2%$100,670
Nonfarm Proprietors2,90619.7%$72,8109.1%$25,055
Farm6424.4%$55,3666.9%$86,240
Nonfarm14,07495.6%$745,62493.1%$52,979
Private12,70686.3%$671,15183.8%$52,822
  Accommodation, Food Serv.5884.0%$12,4101.5%$21,105
  Arts, Ent., Recreation880.6%$6650.1%$7,557
  Construction8125.5%$52,0976.5%$64,159
  Health Care, Social Serv.Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
  Information850.6%$4,3300.5%$50,941
  Manufacturing2,80919.1%$208,11926.0%$74,090
  Professional, Tech. Serv.4403.0%$20,2092.5%$45,930
  Retail Trade1,4509.9%$46,2585.8%$31,902
  Trans., Warehousing1,50610.2%$92,62811.6%$61,506
  Wholesale TradeData not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
  Other Private (not above)2,210*15.0%*$90,572*11.3%*$40,983*
Government1,3689.3%$74,4739.3%$54,439

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
* These totals do not include county data that are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.

Residential Building Permits, 2023UnitsPct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Cost ($000)State Cost ($000)
Total Permits Filed107100.0%100.0%$25,704$7,695,489
Single-Family6358.9%63.0%$18,565$5,961,199
2-Family3431.8%2.0%5,788$99,053
3- and 4-Family109.3%0.9%$1,351$40,460
5+ Family00.0%34.2%$0$1,594,777

Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Largest Cities and Towns in Wells County

NamePopulation
in 2023
Percent of County
Bluffton10,46736.7%
Markle5041.8%*
Ossian3,38211.8%
Poneto1750.6%
Uniondale2761.0%
Vera Cruz750.3%
Zanesville4721.7%*
* This place crosses county lines, so only population in this county is shown.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates

city graph