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CITY

Spencer

West Virginia · 1,895 residents (2025 est.) · 1.249 sq mi
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The short version

Spencer has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $37,639. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $116,800. The poverty rate of 33.5% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 37% less than the West Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,291
−3%since 2000
from 2,352 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,834 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 1,883 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.8
+7%since 2000
from 41.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,895 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K2K3K1990201020202024Spencer
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,639
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,773 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,523
+89%since 2000
from $12,976 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.6%
+16.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
33.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 31.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.467
−5%since 2010
from 0.489 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing6.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance0.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$116,800
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$738
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
56.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 58.6% in 2000
43.1% rent
Vacancy rate
15.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.3%
−13.0 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+26%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
69
RELATED:See current rent listings in Spencer on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.9%(2,279)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(18)
Asian0.7%(16)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.9%(93)
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.1%(2,202)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(41)
Asian1.3%(30)
Other0.7%(15)
Diversity Score9.5%(217)
Diversity Score
9
+139%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.7%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.3%
+22.9 ptssince 2000
from 60.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.6 min
+16%since 2000
from 17.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 73.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
17.9%
−8.9 ptssince 2009
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
16.5%
+8.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
42.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2011
from 41.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.7%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.2%
−18.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.5%
+9.8 ptssince 2009
from 42.7% in 2009
Female
47.5%
−9.8 ptssince 2009
from 57.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.9%
−34.2 ptssince 2009
from 39.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.2%
−12.9 ptssince 2012
from 35.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.4%
−83.0 ptssince 2013
from 89.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
75.0%
+16.1 ptssince 2017
from 58.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 96.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2016
from 3.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Spencer to nearby cities

SPENCER VS
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Income$49,025+30%
Home value$121,600+4%
Population28,593+1409%
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SPENCER VS
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Income$63,537+69%
Home value$153,800+32%
Population9,671+410%
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SPENCER VS
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Income$65,812+75%
Home value$203,300+74%
Population46,117+2334%
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SPENCER VS
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Income$63,884+70%
Home value$155,400+33%
Population13,072+590%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Spencer, West Virginia?

Spencer, West Virginia has about 2,291 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Spencer, West Virginia?

The typical household in Spencer, West Virginia earns about $37,639 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Spencer, West Virginia expensive?

In Spencer, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $116,800, and the typical rent is about $738 a month.

How educated are people in Spencer, West Virginia?

About 16.7% of adults age 25 and over in Spencer, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Spencer, West Virginia?

About 33.5% of people in Spencer, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Spencer, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Spencer, West Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 28 residents, a change of about 1 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 →

Spencer, West Virginia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy