Population 235 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Spruce Center
Household size in Spruce Center
| Period | Spruce Center | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.44 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Spruce Center has 2.44 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of Minnesota. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.32, 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 Spruce Center
| Period | Spruce Center | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.1 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.8 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Spruce Center skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.8, 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 Spruce Center
| Period | Spruce Center | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Spruce Center: 5.8% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Spruce Center
Renters in Spruce Center
| Period | Spruce Center | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.2% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +9.7 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Spruce Center is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among owners, 46.1% 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 Spruce Center
| Period | Spruce Center | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.1% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.1% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 31.2% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.3% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +8.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Spruce Center: 29.3% 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 Spruce Center
| Period | Spruce Center | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +19 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Spruce Center is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole.
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 Spruce Center
| Period | Spruce Center | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $564 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $603 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $956 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $829 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$265 | +$522 | +$606 |
The median renter in Spruce Center pays $829 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 21.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under 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 Spruce Center
Bachelor's degrees in Spruce Center
| Period | Spruce Center | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Spruce Center have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 14.0%, 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 Spruce Center
| Period | Spruce Center | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.2% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.6% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.2% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.5% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Spruce Center: 94.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Minnesota as a whole looks much the same.
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 Spruce Center
| Period | Spruce Center | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.5% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Spruce Center runs below the national rate: 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Minnesota as a whole looks much the same. 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).
Spruce Center 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spruce Center | 2.44 | 44.8 | 5.8% | 15.2% | 29.3% | 1988 | $829 | 14.0% | 94.5% | 4.6% |
| Miltona | 2.38 | 49.0 | 4.7% | 11.5% | 39.5% | 1990 | $845 | 20.8% | 94.6% | 2.7% |
| Rose City | 2.74 | 39.8 | 6.7% | 10.5% | 22.0% | 1979 | $826 | 13.3% | 89.1% | 3.3% |
| Parkers Prairie | 2.48 | 44.3 | 8.7% | 18.1% | 15.0% | 1974 | $818 | 13.7% | 93.5% | 4.4% |
| Carlos | 2.20 | 45.8 | 4.8% | 8.7% | 18.8% | 1984 | $864 | 26.5% | 96.1% | 3.0% |
| Leaf Valley | 2.39 | 48.3 | 4.8% | 12.1% | 38.6% | 1991 | $840 | 20.0% | 94.7% | 3.1% |
| Eagle Bend | 2.42 | 37.4 | 12.6% | 13.1% | 16.2% | 1957 | $757 | 9.0% | 92.6% | 3.4% |
| Nelson | 2.47 | 41.7 | 8.6% | 13.8% | 19.0% | 1986 | $901 | 23.6% | 96.4% | 2.5% |
| Wrightstown | 2.72 | 40.0 | 7.9% | 10.3% | 15.8% | 1978 | $945 | 16.9% | 89.3% | 3.1% |
| Osakis | 2.25 | 47.4 | 6.3% | 20.7% | 26.9% | 1981 | $748 | 21.0% | 92.6% | 1.8% |
| Urbank | 2.59 | 46.1 | 3.6% | 8.2% | 40.4% | 1985 | $1,053 | 26.3% | 95.6% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: New Raymer, CO · Munster, ND · Myrtlewood, AL · Nada, TX · Nanceville, CA · Naples Park, FL · Natrona, IL · Necessity, TX · Needmore, IN · Nelson, CA
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 Spruce Center. 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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