United States › Iowa › Spencer CITY · 2000 CENSUS
Spencer Iowa · 11,317 residents · 10.9 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Spencer is a city of 11,317 people in Iowa. At a median age of 39.2, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Getting to work takes 9 minutes on average. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median rent is $369 a month. Home values have risen by half since 1990, reaching $80,700.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 39.2
US median: 35.2
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 34.9 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K 11K 11K 11K 11K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Spencer Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $32,970
+2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $24,573 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $12,805 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 9.9% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$80,700
+36%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $45,200 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$369
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $264 in 1990
US average: $602
from 61.6% in 1990
35.1% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 99.2%(10,979)
Hispanic / Latino 0.2%(25)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.6%(10,933)
Hispanic / Latino 1.4%(162)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 16.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 85.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 2.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 25.9%(1,109)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 9.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 50.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 23.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 23.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 65.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 42.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 18.7%(114)
Share of the 610 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Spencer Head to head
Compare Spencer to nearby cities SPENCER VS
Storm Lake
Income $62,765 +90%
Home value $172,200 +113%
Population 11,590 +3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER VS
Worthington
Income $61,797 +87%
Home value $210,300 +161%
Population 13,979 +25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER VS
Fairmont
Income $53,084 +61%
Home value $169,900 +111%
Population 10,099 −10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER VS
Sioux Center
Income $92,983 +182%
Home value $290,800 +260%
Population 8,864 −21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Spencer, Iowa? Spencer, Iowa has about 11,317 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Spencer, Iowa? The typical household in Spencer, Iowa earns about $32,970 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Spencer, Iowa expensive? In Spencer, Iowa, the median home is worth about $80,700, and the typical rent is about $369 a month.
How educated are people in Spencer, Iowa? About 17.1% of adults age 25 and over in Spencer, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Spencer, Iowa? About 9.5% of people in Spencer, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Spencer, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Spencer, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 251 residents, a change of about 2 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 