Population 1,682 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Spencer
Household size in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.14 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.23 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Spencer is a place of small households, averaging 2.23 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.33 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.3 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.3 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.3 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Spencer skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in six households in Spencer (18.0%), well above the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Spencer
Renters in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.2% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 13.5% of households in Spencer rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About six in ten owners (58.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.0% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.5% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Spencer: 14.5% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +5 | +6 |
Housing in Spencer leans a little older: the median home dates to 1975, against 1980 nationally.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $517 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $430 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $526 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $713 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$196 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Spencer costs $713 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 20.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Spencer
Bachelor's degrees in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Spencer have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.9%, against 35.6% nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.5% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.9% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.2% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.1% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +15.6 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Spencer never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.2%, unemployment in Spencer is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Virginia as a whole (4.3%). Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Spencer compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer | 2.23 | 46.7 | 18.0% | 13.5% | 14.5% | 1975 | $713 | 16.9% | 83.1% | 5.2% |
| Stella | 2.04 | 49.1 | 7.8% | 16.0% | 13.6% | 1985 | $843 | 11.9% | 80.7% | 0.7% |
| Horse Pasture | 2.44 | 51.6 | 11.4% | 20.1% | 15.0% | 1969 | $768 | 16.9% | 87.8% | 5.9% |
| Preston | 1.96 | 57.0 | 6.7% | 17.1% | 16.5% | 1969 | $875 | 23.4% | 82.1% | 6.4% |
| Chestnut Knob | 1.99 | 55.0 | 13.6% | 3.9% | 8.9% | 1975 | $678 | 8.8% | 72.4% | 7.9% |
| Critz | 2.24 | 42.7 | 6.6% | 19.1% | 13.1% | 1993 | $786 | 8.2% | 79.8% | 0.8% |
| Koehler | 2.19 | 54.5 | 11.9% | 10.1% | 17.4% | 1976 | $926 | 8.9% | 83.8% | 0.0% |
| Nettleridge | 2.18 | 53.3 | 15.4% | 13.4% | 11.7% | 1988 | $694 | 12.8% | 86.0% | 0.2% |
| Fieldale | 2.15 | 51.6 | 12.1% | 22.0% | 23.0% | 1964 | $952 | 9.8% | 81.0% | 0.6% |
| Ridgeway | 2.66 | 44.7 | 11.4% | 17.6% | 20.1% | 1975 | $724 | 16.5% | 86.8% | 3.6% |
| Sanville | 2.23 | 51.0 | 10.9% | 17.2% | 17.9% | 1979 | $754 | 10.7% | 80.3% | 0.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bath, NC · Battle Creek, NE · New Salem, PA · Rheasville, NC · Randall, MN · Ralls, TX · Pondville, AL · Pine Prairie, LA · Pilot Rock, OR · Philo, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Spencer. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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