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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 (2021 population: 10,318)

Population per Square Mile: 76.60

Square Miles: 368.10

Go to county's in.gov site

Population over TimeNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Yesterday (2010)27,637580.4%6,484,050
Today (2021)28,197560.4%6,813,532
Tomorrow (2030 projection)*27,834580.4%7,143,795
Percent Change 2010 to Today2.0%26 5.1%

*Projection based on 2010 Census counts.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center

Components of Population Change, 2020-2021NumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Net Domestic Migration2759 5,230
Net International Migration264 15,490
Natural Increase (births minus deaths)-1527-1.5%1,024

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Population Estimates by Age, 2021NumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Preschool (0 to 4)1,752546.2%6.0%
School Age (5 to 17)5,2575118.6%17.3%
College Age (18 to 24)2,099597.4%9.7%
Young Adult (25 to 44)6,6955623.7%25.7%
Older Adult (45 to 64)7,1315825.3%24.9%
Seniors (65 and older)5,2635518.7%16.4%
Median Age40.0  Median Age = 38.1

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

Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2021NumberRank of Pct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
American Indian or Alaska Native Alone87670.3%0.4%
Asian Alone184510.7%2.7%
Black Alone283571.0%10.2%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone9630.0%0.1%
White27,2755796.7%84.2%
Two or More Race Groups359561.3%2.3%
Hispanic or Latino Origin (can be of any race)    
Non-Hispanic27,2095796.5%92.3%
Hispanic988523.5%7.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Household TypesNumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Households in 2021 (Includes detail not shown below)11,12056100.0%100.0%
Married With Children2,5554223.0%18.2%
Married Without Children3,7925434.1%29.8%
Single Parents728676.5%9.2%
Living Alone3,0745527.6%29.1%

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 2021 (estimate)11,99458100.0%100.0%
Total Housing Units in 2021 (includes vacant units)11,91358100.0%100.0%
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units)
8,6245472.4%62.9%
Median Value (2021)$140,20043  
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units)
2,4965521.0%27.2%
Median Rent (2021)$57146  

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

EducationNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
School Enrollment (2021/2022 Total Reported) 5,114510.5%1,120,155
Public5,114480.5%1,036,519
Adults (25+ in 2021 ACS)19,007570.4%4,501,214
with High School diploma or higher93.2%9 89.8%
with B.A. or higher degree18%51 27.8%

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 2021$49,9535088.4%56,497
Median Household Income in 202166,10221105.4%$62,723
Poverty Rate in 20217.6%8262.8%12.1%
Poverty Rate among Children under 1811.0%8070.1%15.7%
Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 202210700.3%3,933
Food Stamp Recipients in 20221,498720.2%611,203
Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2021/20221,667640.3%481,568

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, 2019335540.4%80,851
Births to Teens, 201724530.5%5,152
Deaths, 2019290620.4%66,005

Source: Indiana State Department of Health

Labor Force, 2021NumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Total Resident Labor Force13,851550.4%3,355,642
Employed13,496550.4%3,225,060
Unemployed355630.3%130,582
Annual Unemployment Rate2.67266.7%3.9
January 2023 Unemployment Rate2.87182.4%3.4

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

Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2021 EmploymentPct Dist.
in County
Earnings ($000)Pct Dist.
In County
Avg. Earnings Per Job
Total by place of work14,354100.0%$747,712100.0%$52,091
Wage and Salary11,11077.4%$513,28368.6%$46,200
Farm Proprietors5043.5%$50,7796.8%$100,752
Nonfarm Proprietors2,74019.1%$61,5598.2%$22,467
Farm6654.6%$55,2897.4%$83,141
Nonfarm13,68995.4%$692,42392.6%$50,582
Private12,32285.8%$618,84682.8%$50,223
  Accommodation, Food Serv.5563.9%$11,6201.6%$20,899
  Arts, Ent., Recreation970.7%$4330.1%$4,464
  Construction7805.4%$46,0376.2%$59,022
  Health Care, Social Serv.Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
  InformationData not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
  Manufacturing2,65118.5%$184,43624.7%$69,572
  Professional, Tech. Serv.Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
  Retail Trade1,46010.2%$43,0795.8%$29,506
  Trans., Warehousing1,51710.6%$86,04211.5%$56,719
  Wholesale TradeData not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
  Other Private (not above)1,848*12.9%*$72,119*9.6%*$39,025*
Government1,3679.5%$73,5779.8%$53,824

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, 2021UnitsPct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Cost ($000)State Cost ($000)
Total Permits Filed56100.0%100.0%$13,708$7,583,249
Single-Family56100.0%74.4%$13,708$6,692,956
2-Family00.0%2.4%0$117,031
3- and 4-Family00.0%0.4%$0$30,324
5+ Family00.0%22.7%$0$742,937

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 2021
Percent of County
Bluffton10,31836.6%
Markle4931.7%*
Ossian3,27111.6%
Poneto1730.6%
Uniondale2721.0%
Vera Cruz690.2%
Zanesville4701.7%*
* This place crosses county lines, so only population in this county is shown.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates

city graph