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Spencer, NC
Town in Rowan County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28159.
Population
3,349
Land area
3.4sq mi
People per sq mi
986
ZIP codes
1
Spencer and its ZIP codes
Spencer at a glance
- Spencer is about 4.5 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $65,465, 10% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $201,700 (30% below North Carolina) and median rent is $1,000 a month.
Local data for Spencer, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Spencer, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$65,465
Poverty rate
11.2%
Median home value
$201,700
Median rent
$1,000/mo
Homeownership
72.7%
Bachelor's or higher
25.6%
Median age
44.2
Average commute
32.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (144), Mexican Americans (138), Irish Americans (87).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Rowan County. PPP loans are for Spencer.
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$60,925
51,121 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$51,712
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$1.1B
FY 2026, $7,420 per person
PPP loans
$1.8M
40 loans, 265 jobs reported
How people get to work
Spencer, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone69.0%
- Carpooled11.2%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle1.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home18.7%
Average one-way commute: 32.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Spencer, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
609
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
188
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 29°F
43.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Spencer, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.6%
U.S. 33.3% +6.3 pts
Diabetes
14.2%
U.S. 12.1% +2.1 pts
Smoking
17.3%
U.S. 12.8% +4.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
12.7%
U.S. 11.1% +1.6 pts
ZIP codes in Spencer
1 in or overlapping Spencer. Population shown
Cities near Spencer
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| East SpencerTown | 1.1 mi | 2.4 |
| SalisburyCity | 3.7 mi | 23.1 |
| Granite QuarryTown | 5.8 mi | 2.9 |
| TyroCensus-designated place | 7.4 mi | 12.8 |
| FaithTown | 7.6 mi | 1 |
| SouthmontCensus-designated place | 9.3 mi | 4.6 |
| RockwellTown | 10 mi | 1.8 |
| CooleemeeTown | 11 mi | 0.8 |
| LexingtonCity | 12 mi | 19.2 |
| China GroveTown | 12 mi | 4.5 |
| Yadkin CollegeCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 2.9 |
| Gold HillCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 2.5 |
| ClevelandTown | 14 mi | 1.6 |
| LandisTown | 14 mi | 3.4 |
| MocksvilleTown | 15 mi | 7.9 |
| MisenheimerVillage | 17 mi | 1.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Spencer, NC in?
- Spencer is in Rowan County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Spencer, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Spencer include 28159.
- What is the population of Spencer, NC?
- About 3,349 people live in Spencer, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Spencer?
- Nearby places include East Spencer (1.1 mi), Salisbury (3.7 mi), Granite Quarry (5.8 mi), Tyro (7.4 mi), Faith (7.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023