United States › Massachusetts › Spencer CITY
Spencer Massachusetts · 5,661 residents · 2.11 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 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
The short version
Spencer is home to 5,661 people in Massachusetts. At a median age of 53.4, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 40% of the housing stock. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. That trails the Massachusetts median by roughly 42%. 4% of people here were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 53.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth 2,684 / sq mi
−1%since 2009
from 2,717 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K 6K 6K 6K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Spencer Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $59,931
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,206 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,975 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.420 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 6.6%
Public administration 5.8%
Transportation & warehousing 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.7%
Education & health services 0.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$341,300
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $121,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,049
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $542 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 44.0% in 2000
59.8% rent
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.02 people
−16%since 2009
from 2.41 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 27.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 39.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.6 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.6%(5,829)
Hispanic / Latino 1.6%(97)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 89.9%(5,092)
Hispanic / Latino 4.5%(254)
from 17 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 75.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 12.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 64.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 73.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 6.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 67.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 79.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 88.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 5.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 49.3%(1,382)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 6.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 58.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 19.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 25.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 18.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 77.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 39.5% 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) 7.6%(16)
Share of the 210 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Spencer Head to head
Compare Spencer to nearby cities SPENCER VS
Worcester
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SPENCER VS
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SPENCER VS
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SPENCER VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Spencer, Massachusetts? Spencer, Massachusetts has about 5,661 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Spencer, Massachusetts? The typical household in Spencer, Massachusetts earns about $59,931 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Spencer, Massachusetts expensive? In Spencer, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $341,300, and the typical rent is about $1,049 a month.
How educated are people in Spencer, Massachusetts? About 16.8% of adults age 25 and over in Spencer, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Spencer, Massachusetts? About 15.8% of people in Spencer, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.
Has Spencer, Massachusetts grown since 1990? Yes, Spencer, Massachusetts has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 645 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.
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