CensusEasy
CITY

Spencer

Massachusetts · 5,661 residents · 2.109 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Worcester metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#209Oldest by median ageof 6,82653.4
The short version

Spencer has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,931. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $341,300. With a median age of 53.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 42% less than the Massachusetts median.

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

Total population
5,661
−6%since 2000
from 6,032 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
2,684 / sq mi
−6%since 2000
from 2,860 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
53.4
+53%since 2000
from 35.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K6K6K6K1990201020202024Spencer
20246K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,931
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,206 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,770
+104%since 2000
from $18,975 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.1%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.8%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.474
+13%since 2010
from 0.420 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information19.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade13.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$341,300
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $121,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,049
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $542 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
40.2%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 44.0% in 2000
59.8% rent
Vacancy rate
10.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.4%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.1%
+10.9 ptssince 2009
from 39.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.7
+65%since 2000
from 3.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
21
RELATED:See current rent listings in Spencer on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.6%(5,829)
Black0.6%(35)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(97)
Asian0.2%(14)
Other0%
Diversity Score6%(362)
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.9%(5,092)
Black0.2%(11)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(254)
Asian3.6%(205)
Other1.7%(99)
Diversity Score23.4%(1,325)
Diversity Score
23
+290%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.8%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.4%
+11.9 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
34.7 min
+87%since 2000
from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.4%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.8%
+8.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
14.3%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.4%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 12.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.5%
−7.5 ptssince 2011
from 64.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
5.2%
−11.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.7%
−34.8 ptssince 2009
from 65.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.1%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
Female
47.9%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
Foreign born
3.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.2%
−43.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.7%
+4.9 ptssince 2012
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.3%
−89.3 ptssince 2013
from 93.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.3%
+17.1 ptssince 2017
from 67.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2016
from 88.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2016
from 5.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Spencer

Ocean City
Pop 5,941
Floral City
Pop 5,437
Okeechobee
Pop 5,811
Edgemoor
Pop 6,349
Places similar to Spencer
Head to head

Compare Spencer to nearby cities

SPENCER VS
Worcester
Income$70,102+17%
Home value$374,400+10%
Population213,862+3678%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER VS
Southbridge
Income$66,287+11%
Home value$294,800−14%
Population18,105+220%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER VS
Webster
Income$63,837+7%
Home value$333,100−2%
Population12,228+116%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER VS
Palmer
Income$78,480+31%
Home value$271,400−20%
Population12,367+118%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Massachusetts
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Spencer with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →