John Hutchinson House · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Wells Township is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns
Wells Township trails Minnesota on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 55021. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wells Township
More Wells Township adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (30.9%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Wells Township
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (17.7%), vs 11.4% across Minnesota. Utility shut-off threats (8.5% vs 5.7%) and housing insecurity (13.1% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 13.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 7.9% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Wells Township
1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.2%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. 1 in 26 adults have had a stroke (3.9%), vs 3.1% across Minnesota. Diabetes is also above the state: 12.5%, vs 10.1% across Minnesota. In all, Wells Township runs above Minnesota on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Minnesota figure falls outside Wells Township’s likely range; Wells Township’s figures come from ZIP code 55021, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Wells Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wells Township is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 60% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 14%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Wells Township’s median household income is $87,574; among the 10,190 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($66K–$109K), it’s healthier than 18%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.9% of Wells Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Out of every 100 Wells Township adults…
Wells Township runs above MN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Wells Township
No hospital or community health center in Wells Township itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Wells Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Wells Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Wells Township adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Wells Township adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Wells Township and the towns around it
Wells Township’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Township | C | 41.4% | 12.5% | 18% | ZIP 55021 |
| Faribault | C− | 42.5% | 12.8% | 19.1% | CDC place |
| Shieldsville Township | B | 38.1% | 11.8% | 15.7% | ZIP codes |
| Warsaw Township | C+ | 40.5% | 12% | 17.2% | ZIP codes |
| Forest Township | B+ | 38.1% | 9.9% | 14.8% | ZIP codes |
| Cannon City Township | C+ | 41% | 12.3% | 17.7% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wells Township adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wells Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wells Township is better than Minnesota on 0 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Wells Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wells Township | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.5%18.1–22.9 | 16% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.4–15.6 | 11.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.6–18.4 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.4%35.2–47.6 | 33.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.5%10.9–14.2 | 10.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36.3%32.6–40 | 31% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.6%30–37.3 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.9%22.2–27.7 | 22.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.5–7.9 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.2%6.4–8 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.5%12–17.4 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18%15.7–20.4 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.9%26.8–35 | 22.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.8–19.4 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.6%28.6–39.1 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.2%9.8–12.8 | 7.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.3%71.8–78.6 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.4%57.1–63.9 | 67.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83%81.1–84.7 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%73.5–79.2 | 76.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.3%62.7–71.7 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%69.6–83 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%19.8–26.3 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.8%25.5–34.3 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.1%19.9–26.5 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.7%15.3–20.1 | 11.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%11.4–14.9 | 9.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.5%7.5–9.7 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.8%8.7–11 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.9%12.1–15.8 | 7.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.4%28.6–36.2 | 27.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.6%12.9–16.4 | 11.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%13.8–17.3 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.2–10.2 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.8 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Minnesota figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Wells Township
Is Wells Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wells Township is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 18%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wells Township?
CDC estimates 41.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.2% and 47.6%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wells Township?
Allina Health Faribault Medical Center in Faribault, 5.4 miles in a straight line from Wells Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wells Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.8–12.8%), against 7.5% across Minnesota.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Wells Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Wells Township.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Minnesota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.