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Spencer, IA
City in Clay County, Iowa. ZIP codes: 51301.
Population
11,400
Land area
10.9sq mi
People per sq mi
1,041
ZIP codes
1
Spencer and its ZIP codes
Spencer at a glance
- Spencer is about 18 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 36th most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $59,667 a year, 21% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $184,800 (11% below Iowa) and median rent is $805 a month.
Local data for Spencer, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Spencer, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$59,667
Poverty rate
14.0%
Median home value
$184,800
Median rent
$805/mo
Homeownership
68.1%
Bachelor's or higher
29.8%
Median age
41.4
Average commute
15.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (4,967), Norwegian Americans (1,518), Irish Americans (1,246).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Clay County. PPP loans are for Spencer.
Unemployment rate
3.0%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$54,799
8,536 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$69,323
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$137M
FY 2026, $8,363 per person
PPP loans
$51.19M
801 loans, 6,119 jobs reported
How people get to work
Spencer, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone82.2%
- Carpooled7.3%
- Public transit1.1%
- Walked3.1%
- Bicycle0.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home5.8%
Average one-way commute: 15.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Spencer, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
893
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
133
1.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 7°F
31.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone3 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Spencer, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.4%
U.S. 33.3% +2.1 pts
Diabetes
12.4%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
15.6%
U.S. 12.8% +2.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.2%
U.S. 11.1% -3.9 pts
ZIP codes in Spencer
1 in or overlapping Spencer. Population shown
Cities near Spencer
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| FostoriaCity | 6.2 mi | 0.4 |
| DickensCity | 7.1 mi | 0.8 |
| EverlyCity | 8.1 mi | 1 |
| RoyalCity | 8.6 mi | 0.3 |
| GreenvilleCity | 9.4 mi | 0.2 |
| RossieCity | 9.6 mi | 0.1 |
| Gillett GroveCity | 11 mi | 0.2 |
| MilfordCity | 12 mi | 2.2 |
| RuthvenCity | 13 mi | 0.4 |
| West OkobojiCity | 14 mi | 1.3 |
| TerrilCity | 14 mi | 0.5 |
| Arnolds ParkCity | 14 mi | 1.6 |
| WahpetonCity | 15 mi | 1.2 |
| HartleyCity | 16 mi | 1.3 |
| WebbCity | 16 mi | 0.5 |
| OkobojiCity | 17 mi | 1.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Spencer, IA in?
- Spencer is in Clay County, Iowa.
- What ZIP codes are in Spencer, IA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Spencer include 51301.
- What is the population of Spencer, IA?
- About 11,400 people live in Spencer, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Spencer?
- Nearby places include Fostoria (6.2 mi), Dickens (7.1 mi), Everly (8.1 mi), Royal (8.6 mi), Greenville (9.4 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023