WIMap-doton-Wells, 2004
Wells’s story
149 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1916 on.
- 1877Wells is settled
WellsWI
A town of 584, settled in 1877.
Population
584
2025 Census estimate · +3.4% since 2020
Median home value
$230K
Census ACS
Household income
$75K
median
Median age
42.2
years
Jobs based here
24
A commuter town
Is Wells a good place to live?
Of the 363 Wisconsin towns we compare, none has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Wells. 92% of households own their home in Wells, above both the Wisconsin town median (74%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%). Wells has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
584 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
RidgevilleLeonAngeloJeffersonWells
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Wells: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Wells, and how to reach them.
PowerOakdale Electric Coop15.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Wells’ trash rules yet
SchoolsSparta Area School DistrictCashton School District2 districts serve Wells; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTown of Wells ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2026
ZIP codes54656, 54648, 5461954656 64% · 54648 22% · 54619 14%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Wells.
Work & commute
Most of Wells’ workers commute out: the town has 0.1 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Wells for work: only 0% work in town. Since 2013, Wells has added 23 jobs, to 24 in 2023. 11% of residents live below the poverty line in Wells, above Wisconsin’s towns (6.4%) and close to U.S. towns (9.6%).
0%work in town
| Wells | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $75,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Wells0%
Sparta15%
La Crosse13%
Cashton9%
Tomah7%
23 mi
median commute distance
24
jobs based in Wells
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Wells, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Wells has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Wells is 81°F.
55″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–28°
Spring34–55°
Summer58–79°
Fall37–57°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 6
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
More of Wells’ adults have obesity than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town
45% of adults have obesity in Wells. Wells beats the Wisconsin average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 26% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Wells.
| Wells | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 38% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 26% | 25% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
0 better17 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Wells | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 13.4% | 9.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.4% | 6.5% |
| More smokers | 17.5% | 13.6% |
Mayo Clinic Health Systm Franciscan Healthcare Sparta
7.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Wells faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 52% of U.S. communities.
52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Wells
15pages on Wells
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Wells; the nearest are
University of Wisconsin-La CrosseUniversity or college · Public · La Crosse25.1 mi$10,070 in-state tuitionWestern Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · La Crosse25.8 mi$4,820 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Wells residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Wells for work
Where Wells’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
24jobs based in Wells
0%of working residents work in town
23 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Wells
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Wells is a town in Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 562 at the time of the 2020 census. The unincorporated community of Farmers Valley is located partially in the town. The town was named for James Wells, a prominent early settler and the first town chair.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,322 ft
- Area code
- 608
Questions about Wells
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Wells, WI a good place to live?
Wells has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.