Population 760 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Spies
Household size in Spies
| Period | Spies | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.70 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.22 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Spies has 2.56 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across North Carolina. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.70, 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 Spies
| Period | Spies | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.2 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.9 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.4 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.3 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.9 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
At 41.3, the median age in Spies is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's.
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 Spies
| Period | Spies | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Spies (10.0%), a little below 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 Spies
Renters in Spies
| Period | Spies | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.8% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Spies rent their homes (25.8%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Nearly half of owners (46.8%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 Spies
| Period | Spies | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.9% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Spies: 18.9% 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 Spies
| Period | Spies | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | −8 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Spies run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980.
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 Spies
| Period | Spies | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $501 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $577 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $610 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $703 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$202 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Spies costs $703 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 31.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Spies
Bachelor's degrees in Spies
| Period | Spies | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Spies: 17.2% 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 Spies
| Period | Spies | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.6% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 76.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.9% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.0% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Spies have finished high school as nationally: 88.0%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in North Carolina overall (90.2%).
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 Spies
| Period | Spies | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.8% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Spies: 14.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 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).
Spies 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spies | 2.56 | 41.3 | 10.0% | 25.8% | 18.9% | 1975 | $703 | 17.2% | 88.0% | 14.8% |
| Robbins | 2.69 | 41.4 | 11.6% | 21.5% | 16.9% | 1982 | $914 | 14.6% | 86.5% | 3.9% |
| Eagle Springs | 2.65 | 46.7 | 13.2% | 20.1% | 12.1% | 1981 | $727 | 23.8% | 80.8% | 6.8% |
| Jugtown | 2.20 | 47.9 | 6.1% | 5.2% | 33.0% | 1982 | $779 | 18.4% | 84.6% | 6.9% |
| Biscoe | 2.52 | 32.0 | 22.3% | 34.1% | 13.6% | 1976 | $714 | 13.5% | 80.8% | 5.3% |
| Star | 3.17 | 37.7 | 6.1% | 27.8% | 12.3% | 1985 | $664 | 16.0% | 82.6% | 4.4% |
| Parkwood | 2.65 | 38.7 | 11.3% | 15.9% | 9.5% | 1982 | $1,518 | 19.6% | 88.7% | 1.7% |
| Ether | 2.33 | 43.1 | 10.0% | 19.1% | 27.5% | 1981 | $783 | 21.1% | 89.3% | 9.8% |
| Seagrove | 2.47 | 40.7 | 9.1% | 15.9% | 12.2% | 1983 | $802 | 15.2% | 82.5% | 1.8% |
| Putnam | 2.94 | 26.8 | 13.5% | 23.9% | 13.3% | 1984 | $1,642 | 27.7% | 89.1% | 0.0% |
| Highfalls | 2.84 | 42.3 | 2.9% | 9.3% | 29.0% | 1983 | $1,372 | 22.4% | 96.6% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Roanoke, LA · Langdon Place, KY · Lewiston, LA · Limaville, OH · Llano, CA · Loudon Center, NH · Luthersburg, PA · Lynnview, KY · Malott, WA · Massee, GA
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 Spies. 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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