Population 4,923 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Spencer
Household size in Spencer
| Period | Spencer | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.27 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.22 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.13 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Spencer are small: just 2.40 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.27, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.9 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.6 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.8 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
Spencer skews older than the country: its median age is 43.9, against 40.1 nationally. West Virginia as a whole looks much the same.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Spencer than nationally: 8.9%, against 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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.9% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.2% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.8% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.8% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.1 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Spencer own their homes; 29.8% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Even so, renters make up a bigger share here than in West Virginia overall (25.1%). About two-thirds of owners (67.8%) 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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.1% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.2% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Spencer: 19.2% 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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Spencer is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1969, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $431 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $457 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $507 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $681 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$249 | +$327 | +$606 |
The median renter in Spencer pays $681 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 34.2% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.2% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Spencer: 15.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.5% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.7% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 76.2% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.9% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Spencer never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.9% 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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.5% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Spencer runs well above the national rate: 12.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 | 2.40 | 43.9 | 8.9% | 29.8% | 19.2% | 1969 | $681 | 15.2% | 81.9% | 12.5% |
| Nancy Run | 2.90 | 57.5 | 11.1% | 4.0% | 31.4% | 1953 | $577 | 19.5% | 92.5% | 0.0% |
| Reedyville | 2.48 | 45.6 | 5.5% | 20.4% | 25.7% | 1979 | $647 | 25.2% | 90.5% | 0.9% |
| Clio | 1.82 | 39.6 | 15.7% | 23.3% | 18.6% | 1976 | $588 | 17.1% | 91.9% | 9.4% |
| Speed | 2.45 | 56.2 | 3.6% | 12.7% | 22.5% | 1976 | $700 | 18.6% | 83.3% | 2.5% |
| Clover | 1.84 | 38.0 | 17.4% | 25.3% | 19.4% | 1977 | $592 | 15.2% | 91.2% | 8.5% |
| Richardson | 2.74 | 56.7 | 10.0% | 5.8% | 30.3% | 1958 | $570 | 17.4% | 90.6% | 2.1% |
| Otto | 2.29 | 46.0 | 10.5% | 10.9% | 21.0% | 1982 | $570 | 11.5% | 82.8% | 10.1% |
| Reedy | 2.56 | 48.5 | 3.1% | 12.1% | 22.3% | 1987 | $590 | 17.5% | 78.1% | 1.3% |
| Peniel | 2.58 | 46.6 | 2.6% | 10.2% | 24.6% | 1989 | $615 | 19.1% | 80.0% | 1.4% |
| Countsville | 2.50 | 52.9 | 3.9% | 10.4% | 25.6% | 1977 | $671 | 20.9% | 86.5% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Cotuit, MA · Sea Cliff, NY · Corning, AR · Newton Grove, NC · Seabeck, WA · Seagrove, NC · Rocky Ford, CO · Seminary, MS · Cottageville, SC · Seneca, MO
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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