Spencer, IA
Demographics And Statistics

We take you around Spencer to find out what it's like to call it home.

Living in Spencer, Iowa

Life in Spencer research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Spencer over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Here's a snapshot of Spencer based on the most recently available data.

11,400 Population
$193,030 Median home value
$59,667 Median income
89 Cost of living -11% vs US
$805 Median rent
4.5% Unemployment
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Spencer SnackAbility

8
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 6/10
Housing 6/10
Affordability 8/10
Diversity 5/10
Safety 7/10
Amenities 8/10
Education 8.5/10
Commute 9.5/10

Crime in Spencer summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Spencer. Key points include:

  • There were 120 total crimes in Spencer in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Spencer is 1,043.4 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Spencer is 52.2 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Spencer is 991.2 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Spencer is -50.77% below the national average.

120
Total Crimes
-50.77%
Below National Average
Spencer
US

Crime In Spencer Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Spencer
/ 100k People
Iowa
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 120 1,043.4 1,540.0 2,119.2
Violent Crime 6 52.2 243.3 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 2.1 5.0
Robbery 2 17.4 18.7 61.0
Aggravated Assault 1 8.7 187.2 256.0
Property Crime 114 991.2 1,296.8 1,760.0
Burglary 11 95.6 199.1 229.0
Larceny 103 895.6 962.6 1,272.0
Car Theft 0 0.0 135.1 259.0
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Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024)

Cost of living in Spencer summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Spencer. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Iowa. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Spencer is 89 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Spencer is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Spencer is $193,030.

  • The median income in Spencer is $59,667.

89
Spencer's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average
Spencer
US

Cost Of Living In Spencer Comparison Table

Living Expense Spencer Iowa National Average
Overall 89 90 100
Services 97 99 100
Groceries 97 95 100
Health 72 75 100
Housing 100 97 100
Transportation 92 93 100
Utilities 92 94 100
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Source: Cost of living index, normalized to US average = 100

Spencer, IA Weather

  • The average high in Spencer is 56.4° and the average low is 35.5°.

  • There are 56.4 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 30.2 inches of precipitation each year with 36.2 inches of snow.

StatSpencer
Average Annual High56.4
Average Annual Low35.5
Annual Precipitation Days56.4
Average Annual Precipitation30.2
Average Annual Snowfall36.2
56.4°
Average High
56.4
Days of Rain

Source: NOAA climate normals (30-year)

Spencer, IA Photos

Source: Flickr User Nels_P_Olsen | CC BY-SA 2.0

Rankings & Articles For Spencer

Locations Around Spencer

Map Of Spencer, IA

Best Places Around Spencer

1

Worthington, MN
Population 13,780

$240,254+24% vs Spencer
2

Algona, IA
Population 5,377

$179,883-7% vs Spencer
3

Sheldon, IA
Population 5,474

$220,402+14% vs Spencer
4

Storm Lake, IA
Population 11,428

$177,022-8% vs Spencer
5

Estherville, IA
Population 5,839

$122,713-36% vs Spencer
6

Fairmont, MN
Population 10,296

$168,288-13% vs Spencer
7

Cherokee, IA
Population 5,154

$148,065-23% vs Spencer

Spencer Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Spencer

The current population in Spencer is 11,400. The population has increased 1.8% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2024 11,400 0.1%
2023 11,393 0.4%
2022 11,351 0.5%
2021 11,292 2.3%
2020 11,038 -0.1%
2019 11,052 -0.4%
2018 11,092 -0.4%
2017 11,132 -0.4%
2016 11,172 -0.1%
2015 11,186 0.1%
2014 11,177 -0.1%
2013 11,188 -0.1%
2012 11,204 0.0%
2011 11,200 0.1%
2010 11,193 -

Race / Ethnicity in Spencer

White 90.4% (10,305)
African American 0.4% (40)
American Indian 0.2% (20)
Asian 0.9% (103)
Hawaiian 0.0% (0)
Other 0.0% (0)
Two Or More 2.5% (288)
Hispanic 5.6% (644)
See the full breakdown

Spencer is:

  • 90.4% White with 10,305 White residents.

  • 0.4% African American with 40 African American residents.

  • 0.2% American Indian with 20 American Indian residents.

  • 0.9% Asian with 103 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.0% Other with 0 Other residents.

  • 2.5% Two Or More with 288 Two Or More residents.

  • 5.6% Hispanic with 644 Hispanic residents.

Race Spencer IA USA
White 90.4% 82.3% 57.4%
African American 0.4% 3.8% 11.9%
American Indian 0.2% 0.2% 0.5%
Asian 0.9% 2.5% 5.9%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.2% 0.2%
Other 0.0% 0.3% 0.6%
Two Or More 2.5% 3.5% 4.3%
Hispanic 5.6% 7.3% 19.3%

Gender in Spencer

Female 51.8% (5,906)
Male 48.2% (5,494)
See the full breakdown
  • Spencer is 51.8% female with 5,906 female residents.

  • Spencer is 48.2% male with 5,494 male residents.

Gender Spencer IA USA
Female 51.8% 49.8% 50.5%
Male 48.2% 50.2% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Spencer for adults over 25

< 9th Grade 4.0% (455)
9-12th Grade 5.0% (570)
High School / GED 28.0% (3,192)
Some College 19.0% (2,166)
Associate's Degree 15.0% (1,710)
Bachelor's Degree 22.0% (2,508)
Master's Degree 5.0% (570)
Professional Degree 2.0% (228)
Doctorate Degree 0.0% (0)
See the full breakdown
  • 4.0% of adults in Spencer completed < 9th grade.

  • 5.0% of adults in Spencer completed 9-12th grade.

  • 28.0% of adults in Spencer completed high school / ged.

  • 19.0% of adults in Spencer completed some college.

  • 15.0% of adults in Spencer completed associate's degree.

  • 22.0% of adults in Spencer completed bachelor's degree.

  • 5.0% of adults in Spencer completed master's degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Spencer completed professional degree.

  • 0.0% of adults in Spencer completed doctorate degree.

Education Spencer IA USA
< 9th Grade 4.0% 3.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 5.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 28.0% 30.0% 26.0%
Some College 19.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 15.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 22.0% 21.0% 22.0%
Master's Degree 5.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 0.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Spencer, Iowa

Less than $10,000 2.4% (26,960)
$10,000 to $14,999 4.6% (51,947)
$15,000 to $24,999 9.2% (105,429)
$25,000 to $34,999 9.3% (106,525)
$35,000 to $49,999 17.9% (203,845)
$50,000 to $74,999 16.7% (190,474)
$75,000 to $99,999 13.4% (152,774)
$100,000 to $149,999 15.0% (170,747)
$150,000 to $199,999 6.5% (73,866)
$200,000 or more 5.0% (57,427)
See the full breakdown
  • 2.4% of households in Spencer earn Less than $10,000.

  • 4.6% of households in Spencer earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 9.2% of households in Spencer earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 9.3% of households in Spencer earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 17.9% of households in Spencer earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 16.7% of households in Spencer earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 13.4% of households in Spencer earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 15.0% of households in Spencer earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 6.5% of households in Spencer earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 5.0% of households in Spencer earn $200,000 or more.

Income Spencer IA USA
Less than $10,000 2.4% 4.0% 5.0%
$10,000 to $14,999 4.6% 3.2% 3.4%
$15,000 to $24,999 9.2% 6.7% 6.3%
$25,000 to $34,999 9.3% 7.2% 6.6%
$35,000 to $49,999 17.9% 11.3% 10.1%
$50,000 to $74,999 16.7% 17.5% 15.5%
$75,000 to $99,999 13.4% 14.0% 12.6%
$100,000 to $149,999 15.0% 18.7% 17.5%
$150,000 to $199,999 6.5% 8.8% 9.6%
$200,000 or more 5.0% 8.6% 13.4%

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (2024)