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Wells County, North Dakota
A shallow water table limits basements on 55% of Wells County's mapped land, a higher share than 71% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 10%.
31.9% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 75% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1964.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Wells County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 10.1% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 54.9% |
| Septic fields very limited | 42.1% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 10.4% |
| Mapped soil | 826,500 acres |
How we count · survey areas ND103 (2026-05-04)
What the numbers mean here
On 55% of Wells County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 14.29 in, 4.24 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 18.53 in.
Drought
31.9% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 11 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 2 weeks, most recently on the September 1, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 93.3% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 31.9% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Wells County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 18.53 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 14.29 in (-4.24) |
| 2025 | 18.30 in (-0.23) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2000: 26.70 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1988: 9.03 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at FESSENDEN (5 mi away) | 3.1 |
Homes
| Housing units | 2,209 |
| Median year built | 1964 |
| Built before 1980 | 75% |
| Built 2000 or later | 7% |
| Owner-occupied | 77% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $114,500 |
| Single-family detached | 78% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheridan County, ND | 30 mi | 15% | 31% |
| Benson County, ND | 37 mi | 12% | 69% |
| Eddy County, ND | 38 mi | 6% | 63% |
| Kidder County, ND | 38 mi | 9% | 19% |
| Foster County, ND | 39 mi | 11% | 70% |
| Pierce County, ND | 47 mi | 8% | 68% |
| Stutsman County, ND | 54 mi | 15% | 40% |
| Burleigh County, ND | 56 mi | 12% | 11% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (May 4, 2026) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status