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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Spencer Micro

Spencer, IA · 1 counties · 16,202 residents (2025 est.) · 567.238 sq mi
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The short version

Spencer has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,428. Population has declined 5% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $178,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 30%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,461
−5%since 2000
from 17,372 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
29 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 31 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.3
+7%since 2000
from 39.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,202 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K16K17K17K18K1990201020202024Spencer
202416K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,428
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,799 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,651
+99%since 2000
from $19,451 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.3%
+24.3 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.4%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.417
−8%since 2010
from 0.452 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade12%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$178,600
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$811
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $379 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.3%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 69.1% in 2000
26.7% rent
Vacancy rate
10.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.8%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+29%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
66
RELATED:See current rent listings in Spencer on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(16,902)
Black0.2%(30)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(196)
Asian0.8%(142)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.2%(911)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.1%(14,994)
Black0.3%(45)
Hispanic / Latino4.7%(781)
Asian0.8%(124)
Other3.1%(517)
Diversity Score20.9%(3,436)
Segregation Score21%(3,464)
Diversity Score
21
+298%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
21
+3%since 2020
from 20 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.5%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.3%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 88.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.8 min
+70%since 2000
from 10.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 5.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.8%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 69.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.2%
−22.2 ptssince 2009
from 61.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
2.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−40.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 12.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.5%
−84.7 ptssince 2013
from 90.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.5%
+13.2 ptssince 2017
from 76.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

SpencerCENTRAL11,218
What's inside

1 component county

Clay CountyCENTRAL16,202
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Spencer

Atchison
Pop 16,172
Baker City
Pop 16,658
Snyder
Pop 16,162
Borger
Pop 19,633
Places similar to Spencer
Head to head

Compare Spencer side by side

SPENCER VS
Atchison
Income$61,112−7%
Home value$145,700−18%
Population16,172same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER VS
Baker City
Income$60,936−7%
Home value$285,600+60%
Population16,658+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER VS
Snyder
Income$60,039−8%
Home value$113,800−36%
Population16,162same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER VS
Borger
Income$67,228+3%
Home value$119,100−33%
Population19,633+21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Spencer, IA?

Spencer, IA has about 16,461 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Spencer, IA?

The typical household in Spencer, IA earns about $65,428 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Spencer, IA expensive?

In Spencer, IA, the median home is worth about $178,600, and the typical rent is about $811 a month.

How educated are people in Spencer, IA?

About 27.5% of adults age 25 and over in Spencer, IA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Spencer, IA?

About 11.4% of people in Spencer, IA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Spencer, IA grown since 1990?

Yes, Spencer, IA has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,124 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →