Median Age
42 Years
Largest Age Group
60-69 Years
Approximately 13% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
23%
Spencer
Spencer, IA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$699
Population
11,806
Renter Mix
33% Rent
Delight in the seat of Clay County’s small-town charm
Suburban
•
Family-Friendly
•
Affordable
•
Scenic
•
Historic
•
Close-Knit
•
Riverside
•
Located in the northwestern corner of Iowa, Spencer is a community-oriented small town that sits where the Little Sioux River meets the Ocheyedan River. Spencer’s waterways and robust park system provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, camping, fishing, and kayaking.
At Spencer’s core is the vibrant, historic downtown, featuring the largest and most diverse collection of 1930s Art Deco architecture in the Midwest in addition to numerous museums, theatrical productions, restaurants, and shops to enjoy. Spencer is also home to the “World’s Greatest County Fair,” drawing more than 300,000 attendees every year. Convenience to U.S. Routes 18 and 71 makes getting around from Spencer simple.
Explore the City
Downtown Spencer includes many Art-Deco style buildings that were built after a huge fire in the 1930s.
Paved trails follow the Little Sioux River through the heart of Spencer.
Every September, Spencer is home to the Clay County Fair, the largest county fair in Iowa.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$47,906
Average: $67,894
Education
2,543
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
5,978
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Spencer has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
33%
Non-Renters
67%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
18%
Other Education
82%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Spencer, IA is $844 for a studio, $699 for one bedroom, $854 for two bedrooms, and $1,384 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Spencer has decreased by -5.3% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$699/month
597 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Spencer, IA is 13.4% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Spencer is 35.0% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $699 - $1,384. You can expect to pay 2.4% more for groceries, 7.0% less for utilities, and 25.2% more for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Spencer, IA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
467 Students
Public
Grades K-5
308 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
229 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
514 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
712 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Top Apartments in Spencer
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.