The Town FilesSpencer, North Carolina
Town in Rowan County · population 3,308 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,700
- Household income
- $65,465
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 44.2
Spencer is a town of 3,308 people in Rowan County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $201,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 100% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 90% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 86% of North Carolina towns.
How Spencer ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Spencer is worth $201,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $65,465, which is more affordable than 75% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,000 a month. 72.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Spencer | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,000 | $969 |
| Median household income | $65,465 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Spencer
| People | Spencer | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Spencer
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 29.0°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.4 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spencer since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 28, 2010 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 3, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 4, 1985.
Severe weather in Rowan County since 1996
Rowan County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Rowan County
Rowan County had 50,595 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,503 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Spencer itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Spencer
3 public schools with 1,569 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Rowan High | 9-12 | 592 | 15.6 |
| North Rowan Middle | 6-8 | 564 | 16.1 |
| North Rowan Elementary | PK-5 | 413 | 13.8 |
Towns near Spencer
- Salisbury, NC4.6 mi · 35,540 people · home $242,500
- Granite Quarry, NC6.3 mi · 2,984 people · home $257,300
- Tyro, NC7.3 mi · 3,753 people · home $191,800
- Lexington, NC10.7 mi · 19,632 people · home $179,900
- China Grove, NC12.3 mi · 4,434 people · home $225,800
- Landis, NC14.8 mi · 3,690 people · home $252,100
- Mocksville, NC15.6 mi · 5,900 people · home $240,700
- Welcome, NC17.0 mi · 4,131 people · home $200,800
Spencer questions
Is Spencer, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Spencer scores better for retirees than 47% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 29%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Spencer?
The median owner-occupied home in Spencer is valued at $201,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,465, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,000 a month.
What is the weather like in Spencer?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 29.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 2.4 inches of snow.
Does Spencer get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spencer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 28, 2010. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)