Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Wells is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns
Wells differs from Nevada on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wells. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wells
The nearest ER is 45 miles from Wells
The closest emergency room is Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital in Elko, 45.2 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Wells
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), vs 7.1% across Nevada. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 6.4% across Nevada. Stroke is also above the state: 4.6%, vs 3.4% across Nevada. In all, Wells runs above Nevada on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Wells
53.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.2% across Nevada. Among those 65 and older, 17.6% have lost all their teeth (Nevada 11.6%). Checkups ↓
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 Nevada 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 11% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 24% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 6%).
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 $107,454; among the 7,547 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($81K–$134K), it’s healthier than 1%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
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.
Out of every 100 Wells adults…
Wells runs above NV on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 5% of Wells residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Nevada. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wells adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nevada.
Everyday habits, side by side with Nevada
Share of adults, with the Nevada figure marked.
3.4 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Wells adults are doing
About the same as Nevada 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.1% of Wells adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Nevada.
Wells and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | D | 39.9% | 14.7% | 19.2% | 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 (Nevada 33.7%). 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 Nevada on 1 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Nevada 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 | NV | U.S. | vs NV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.1%23.1–31.6 | 22.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%15.7–20.9 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.6–21.7 | 18.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.9%32.5–47.6 | 31.3% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.7%12.5–17.1 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.4%34–42.9 | 34% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.5%35.8–45 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.4%27.6–35.3 | 24.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.9 | 10.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.2–10.1 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.6–10 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%8.6–12.4 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.6%14.5–21.2 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.2%15.7–23.2 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.7%24.4–35.7 | 26.2% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.2–18 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.1%32–44.7 | 39.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.2%11.5–17.3 | 14.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.1%69.8–77.9 | 73.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.4%49.2–57.6 | 58.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%81.5–86.2 | 84.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.1%72.5–79.1 | 72.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.3%54.7–65.8 | 58.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 66.1%56.6–74.5 | 69.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%18.4–25.8 | 20.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%28–38 | 36.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.2%20.5–28.2 | 27.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.4%16.7–24.1 | 18% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.5%13–18.1 | 15.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.7%9.1–12.4 | 9.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.4%9.7–13.2 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.1%15.4–23.1 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.3%35–46.1 | 33.7% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.7%16.7–23.1 | 15.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%15.9–21.6 | 15.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%8.7–11.5 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.6 | 5.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.1%9.5–12.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%4.8–6.6 | 4.1% | 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 Nevada 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 11% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 1%. 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 39.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.5% and 47.6%, against 31.3% across Nevada and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Wells have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–17.3%), against 14.5% across Nevada.
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 Nevada 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.