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Living in
Spencer.
About
Life in Spencer
Spencer is a community of 11,393 people in Iowa. The median household income is $59,667, median rent runs about $805 per month, and median home values are around $184,800. Unemployment is low at 3.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Spencer at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.0%
Foreign-Born
3.3%
Broadband Internet
89.1%
of households
Population Growth
-0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.3% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Spencer: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Spencer, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (56.5%), and 2.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.3%
of residents
65 and Older
21.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.4%
of households
Married Couples
40.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.13
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 17% below IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Spencer
In Spencer, rent runs 17% below the IA average, and home values are 11% below the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
36.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,419
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $198,647 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Spencer
Unemployment in Clay County, which includes Spencer, is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
Spencer: Clay County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Clay County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Spencer Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.8 min avg
How Spencer residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Spencer, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 84% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 63 mi
Fort Dodge Regional Airport (FOD)
Regional airport · few flights9,173 passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 71% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Spencer runs 71% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
96.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
873.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Spencer Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 30 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
36.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Clay County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Clay County, which includes Spencer, the most common type is winter weather, with 30 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 32 | Flood | $25.6M |
| 2023 | 28 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 30 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 21 | Drought | $25,000 |
| 2020 | 27 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2019 | 22 | Flood | $860,000 |
| 2018 | 52 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Clay County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Palo Alto County, IA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 25 miles from Spencer) is typically good — 263 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
263
per year
Moderate Days
92
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Palo Alto County, IA (25 mi away)
Climate82°F summers, 10°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Spencer has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 10°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
28°/10°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
31.0"
Annual Snowfall
43.3"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
161
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
101
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°F | 7°F | 0.72" |
| Feb | 30°F | 11°F | 0.79" |
| Mar | 43°F | 24°F | 1.66" |
| Apr | 58°F | 35°F | 3.49" |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 4.19" |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.60" |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 3.74" |
| Aug | 81°F | 59°F | 3.77" |
| Sep | 75°F | 50°F | 3.29" |
| Oct | 60°F | 37°F | 2.35" |
| Nov | 44°F | 24°F | 1.41" |
| Dec | 30°F | 13°F | 0.98" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Spencer
Spencer has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Spencer Municipal Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Spencer
Spencer's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 29.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pipestone National Monument, 84 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Spencer
Spencer has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Pipestone National Monument (84 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pipestone National Monument
National Monument
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Spencer
Spencer Public Library
21 E 3rd St, Spencer
Cities Near Spencer
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Spencer?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Spencer FAQ
Is Spencer, Iowa affordable?⌄
Spencer's median rent is $805/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,667/year. Median home value is $184,800.
Is Spencer, Iowa safe?⌄
Spencer's violent crime rate was 96 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 874 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Spencer, Iowa?⌄
Clay County, which includes Spencer, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Spencer, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Spencer is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $805/month and median household income is $59,667/year. The median home value is $184,800. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Spencer, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Spencer is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from