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CITY · 2020 ACS

Spencer

Massachusetts · 5,810 residents · 2.11 sq mi
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The short version

Spencer is a city of 5,810 people in Massachusetts. 6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Owners hold 44% of the housing stock. Households here earn about 38% less than in Massachusetts as a whole. At a median age of 43.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 7% of people here were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
6% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

5,810
−4%since 2000
from 6,032 in 2000
1990 – 2024
43.1
+23%since 2000
from 35.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
2.11 sq mi
Population, 19902024
5K6K6K6K6K19902000201020202024Spencer
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54%(235)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.1%(296)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.1%(299)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195%(292)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.4%(372)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3414.2%(824)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.3%(712)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.6%(790)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415%(873)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.9%(692)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.5%(317)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.9%(108)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$52,593
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,206 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$29,909
+58%since 2000
from $18,975 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
29.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
12.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade21.6%
US avg: 10%
Information15.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade10.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services7.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$235,800
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $121,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$815
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $542 in 2000
US average: $1,124
44.1%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 44.0% in 2000
55.9% rent
2.15 people
−11%since 2009
from 2.41 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
4.5
−3%since 2009
from 4.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.6%(5,829)
Black0.6%(35)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(97)
Asian0.2%(14)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic80.9%(4,700)
Black2.5%(144)
Hispanic / Latino10.8%(626)
Asian1%(61)
Other4.5%(261)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican2.7%(154)
Argentine0.3%(18)
Asian origin
Vietnamese6.2%(361)
Asian Indian0.3%(16)
Ancestry
American22.9%(1,332)
French11.1%(647)
English10.2%(591)
Irish9.9%(575)
Italian4.9%(282)
Swedish4%(234)
Polish3%(175)
Finnish2.8%(162)
German1.2%(68)
West Indian1.1%(63)
Dutch1%(60)
+ 8 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.6%(36)
Brazilian0.6%(34)
Scottish0.5%(29)
Armenian0.3%(19)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(19)
Greek0.3%(16)
Canadian0.3%(15)
British0.2%(14)
Section 05

Education

6.4%
−7.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.7%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
1.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

27.7 min
+50%since 2000
from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
84.3%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
20.9%
+13.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

9.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 12.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
58.7%
−5.4 ptssince 2011
from 64.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
73.7%
US average: 73.3%
20.6%
−9.1 ptssince 2009
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

51.0%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
49.0%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
7.1%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
2.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2013
from 6.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
79.3%
US average: 91.9%
90.5%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married49.3%(1,382)
Married35.6%(998)
Widowed5.3%(148)
Divorced9.9%(278)
Women 15+
Never married21.3%(510)
Married39.9%(955)
Widowed8.6%(205)
Divorced30.2%(721)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

2.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2013
from 6.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
58.4%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
19.1%
US average: 13.7%
25.0%
US average: 17.6%
18.6%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.9%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
77.0%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
39.5%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)18%(62)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)3.8%(13)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era52.3%(180)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War3.2%(11)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 344 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Spencer, Massachusetts?

Spencer, Massachusetts has about 5,810 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Spencer, Massachusetts?

The typical household in Spencer, Massachusetts earns about $52,593 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 $235,800, and the typical rent is about $815 a month.

How educated are people in Spencer, Massachusetts?

About 6.4% 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 12.4% 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 496 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →