Spencer, Iowa
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 42% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 59% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 13% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 70% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 48% of US places
- top 3% for commute time
- top 9% for cost of living
- bottom 10% for monthly owner costs
Spencer is a town in Iowa with about 11,000 residents. It grades B for getting around and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include commute time, cost of living, and park & nature access. It rates lower on air quality and monthly owner costs.
- The median home value in Spencer is $156k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Spencer is $57k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Spencer is $737 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Spencer has a violent crime rate of 726/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Spencer is 16 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cool
comf.
warm
cool
v.cold
freez.
77%55%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.0 in0.8 in
humid 94%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$57k41st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$42kbetter than 91% of US places
Home Value$156k47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$737better than 75% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$4kbetter than 10% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.39%better than 30% of US places
Income Tax6.00%better than 29% of US places
Sales Tax6.94%better than 68% of US places
Estimated total tax burden12.10%better than 28% of US places
Unemployment5.2%better than 37% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)17°F8th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F32nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation31.0 in24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall43.3 inbetter than 19% of US places
Sunny Days235 daysbetter than 53% of US places
Summer Humidity63°Fbetter than 58% of US places
Comfortable Days91 daysbetter than 72% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk84.8better than 18% of US places
Air Quality51 AQIbetter than 18% of US places
School Quality46.8better than 29% of US places
Violent Crime726/100kbetter than 50% of US places
Property Crime1005/100kbetter than 47% of US places
Community
Population11,35188th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age41.452nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1235th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.8929th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+3966th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)91.1%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.6%52nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.8%56th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.4%62nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.1%53rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time16 minbetter than 97% of US places
Walkability7.1/20better than 61% of US places
Airport Distance133 mibetter than 23% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access85.7%better than 48% of US places
Amenities Nearby14.98better than 18% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 86% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Spencer an affordable place to live?
- Spencer is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $42k, better than 91% of comparable areas. Median rent is $737.
- Is Spencer safe?
- Spencer is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 726/100k (better than 50%). Property crime is 1005/100k.
- What is the weather like in Spencer?
- Spencer averages 73°F in July and 17°F in January, with 31.0 in of annual precipitation and about 235 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Spencer?
- Public-school quality in Spencer is below average, scoring better than 29% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Spencer?
- The average one-way commute in Spencer is 16 min.