Spencer, IA Micro Area

Metro Area

Population: 16,446 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Spencer, IA Micro Area

What is the median household income in Spencer, IA Micro Area?: The median household income in Spencer, IA Micro Area is $64,082 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Spencer, IA Micro Area?: The poverty rate in Spencer, IA Micro Area is 6.6% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Spencer, IA Micro Area?: $171,500 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Spencer, IA Micro Area?: The median gross rent in Spencer, IA Micro Area is $798 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Spencer, IA Micro Area residents have a college degree?: 26.0% of adults in Spencer, IA Micro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

16,446

Median Income

$64,082

Median Home Value

$171,500

Poverty Rate

6.6%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

4.0%

Median Age

41.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$13,561 (+26.8%) Home Value: +$47,400 (+38.2%) Poverty Rate: -1.9 pp (-22.4%) Bachelor's+: +3.3 pp (+14.5%) Unemployment: -0.2 pp (-4.8%)

Demographics

Total Population 16,446

Median Age 41.0

Female 50.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 4.5% White (non-Hisp.) 91.7% Black 0.5% Asian 0.3% Two or More 3.8% Other 0.4%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

4.0%

Puerto Rican

0.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $64,082 ±$6,067

Per Capita Income $83,100

Median Family Income $92,188

Poverty Rate 6.6%

Child Poverty Rate 14.2%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 10.3%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 24.3%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

2.0%

$10–15k

4.7%

$15–25k

9.4%

$25–35k

6.9%

$35–50k

17.2%

$50–75k

16.2%

$75–100k

12.8%

$100–150k

18.6%

$150–200k

6.9%

$200k+

5.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 8,141

Owner-Occupied 72.7%

Renter-Occupied 27.3%

Vacancy Rate 11.0%

Median Home Value $171,500

Median Gross Rent $798

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 13.9%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 27.8%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

5.5%

$50–100k

15.9%

$100–200k

22.3%

$200–300k

20.5%

$300–500k

14.6%

$500k–$1M

3.3%

$1M+

0.6%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

12.4%

$500–1k

65.6%

$1–1.5k

19.9%

$1.5–2k

0.8%

$2–2.5k

0.4%

$3.5k+

0.9%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

5.0%

1 vehicle

33.1%

2 vehicles

38.6%

23.3%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

75.5%

Single-fam. att.

1.5%

2–4 units

2.3%

5–19 units

5.8%

20+ units

6.5%

Mobile home

1.8%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

28.5%

1940–1969

6.4%

1970–1999

17.0%

2000–2009

8.6%

2010+

5.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 94.9%

Bachelor's or Higher 26.0%

Graduate Degree 7.4%

Some College / Associate 22.6%

Less Than High School 1.1%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 65.8%

Unemployment Rate 4.0%

Work from Home 6.5%

Self-Employed 8.4%

Government Workers 13.2%

Private For-Profit 78.4%

Industry

Edu/Health

25.8%

Retail

14.4%

Manufacturing

11.3%

Prof. Services

8.0%

Arts/Entmt.

7.7%

Construction

7.0%

Agriculture

6.8%

Transportation

5.3%

Finance

4.4%

Wholesale

2.5%

Public Admin

2.3%

Information

1.1%

Occupation

Management

37.1%

Sales

20.2%

Production

17.7%

Food Prep

14.3%

Construction

10.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 19.1 min

Drove Alone 78.9%

Carpool 8.9%

Public Transit 1.1%

Work from Home 6.5%

Walked 4.2%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 7,249

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 44.7%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 15.1%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.3%

5–9

6.8%

10–14

7.1%

15–19

5.8%

20–24

5.8%

25–34

10.6%

35–44

11.8%

45–54

11.2%

55–64

5.8%

65–74

7.9%

75–84

12.3%

85+

6.8%

Under 18: 23.1% Working age (18–64): 76.9% 65 and over: 21.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 1.0%

Naturalized Citizen 39.1%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 0.6%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

49.7%

Asia

36.7%

Europe

0.6%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 8.2%

With a Disability 15.0%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 95.4%

Uninsured 4.6%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 87.8%

Has a Computer 95.3%

Same House 1 Year Ago 87.4%

Moved from Abroad 0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023