Photo: Anon a mouse Lee · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Wells is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns
Wells differs from Minnesota on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wells. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wells
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Wells
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.8%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Wells runs above Minnesota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More Wells adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Wells
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (15.5%), vs 11.4% across Minnesota. Utility shut-off threats (7.4% vs 5.7%) and no reliable transportation (8.9% vs 7.1%) are higher too. 12.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 7.9% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Wells is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Wells is healthier than 30%. Against the 8,955 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 47%. Health Grade ↓
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’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Wells’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wells is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 65% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 19%).
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’ median household income is $60,156; among the 8,955 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
Where Wells compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.9% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Wells adults…
Wells runs above MN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Wells is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Wells as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 2 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.
12.5% of Wells adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Care in and near Wells
No hospital or community health center in Wells 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; ≈ 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 adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Wells adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
1 in 3 Wells 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 and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | C | 38.6% | 13.6% | 17.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wells adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wells
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wells is better than Minnesota on 1 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Wells’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wells | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.7%18–25.7 | 16% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%12.7–17.3 | 11.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.1–18.5 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.6%31.1–46.2 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.6%11.6–15.6 | 10.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.3%32.9–41.5 | 31% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.1%32.7–41.3 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29%25.6–32.4 | 22.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.1–11.3 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.6–10.1 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.1–10.4 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%3.9–5.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.6%16.2–23.4 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7%14.2–21.2 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31%25.5–36.6 | 22.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.4–19.4 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30%24–36.6 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.3%7.9–12.9 | 7.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.7%72–79.3 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.4%61.8–69 | 67.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.2%82.1–86.5 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%76.9–82.4 | 76.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.7%63.6–73.7 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.5%68.6–83.2 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.3%20.8–27.9 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.6%26.7–36.8 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.5%18.1–25.3 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.5%12.5–18.8 | 11.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%9.2–13.3 | 9.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.4%6.2–8.7 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%7.5–10.3 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.5%10–15.4 | 7.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.4%31.1–41.5 | 27.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.4%14.6–20.7 | 11.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.4%13–17.9 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.6–11.3 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5–7.1 | 4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.1–11.5 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4–5.7 | 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
Is Wells a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wells is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 47%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wells?
CDC estimates 38.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.1% and 46.2%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wells?
Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea and Austin in Albert Lea, 19.1 miles in a straight line from Wells’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wells have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.9–12.9%), 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 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.
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.