City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

East Spencer, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for East Spencer - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,309
Residents
$34,696
Median income
$108,500
Median home
$1,196
Median rent (state)

East Spencer - the verdict

East Spencer ranks in the 4th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

4th
percentile, household income
12th
percentile, home value
36th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: East Spencer, NC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,309 residents in East Spencer, a small town within North Carolina. Median household income here is $34,696 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 29.0%. Home values in East Spencer run a median of $108,500, and the median resident age is 53.6 years. About 10.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 36.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,196 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 82.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

1,309 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$34,696 /yr

Poverty 29.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does East Spencer compare to other US cities?

East Spencer measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 12% pricier than other cities
Median rent 36% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares East Spencer against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is East Spencer's strongest outlier among North Carolina cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, East Spencer ranks #66 - the 91st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares East Spencer only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#639 of 700
9th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#311 of 746
57th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#611 of 708
14th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#66 of 746
91st percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#634 of 746
15th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

4thIncome percentile

4th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How East Spencer's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$108,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 88% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. East Spencer $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - East Spencer, NC East Spencer, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not East Spencer, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution East Spencer, NC median $34,696/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
East Spencer, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for East Spencer, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 10.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 29.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 36.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,309
Median Income
$34,696
Median Home Value
$108,500
Median Age
53.6
Poverty Rate
29.0%
Labor force participation
36.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
10.3%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,550 residents1,600 residents1,650 residents1,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,581 residents 1,650 residents ▲ +4.4%
East Spencer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.7%
Carpool
7.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
3.1%
Other
2.8%

Based on 413 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county East Spencer sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,196/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
82.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Dortches
1,317 people
Stony Point
1,301 people
Robersonville
1,319 people
Pinetops
1,323 people
Southmont
1,293 people
Rutherford College
1,327 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to East Spencer's 1,309 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ash Flat, AR
1,309 people
Redington Beach, FL
1,309 people
Long Creek, IL
1,309 people
Sheldon, IL
1,309 people
Wingdale, NY
1,309 people
Oakland CDP (Lawrence County), PA
1,309 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to East Spencer's $34,696 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cloverport, KY
$34,688 median income
Purvis, MS
$34,688 median income
Pineville, MO
$34,688 median income
Kirbyville, TX
$34,688 median income
Capitola, FL
$34,710 median income
Castle Point, MO
$34,679 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - East Spencer, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition East Spencer, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 11.8% 78.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.3% White 11.8% Black or African American 78.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.4% Two or more races 4.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How East Spencer compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
East Spencer (this city) 1,309 $34,696
Dortches 1,317 $72,955
Stony Point 1,301 $70,846
Robersonville 1,319 $43,359
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about East Spencer, NC?

What is the population of East Spencer, NC? +

1,309 people live in East Spencer, NC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in East Spencer, NC? +

In East Spencer, the typical household earns $34,696 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in East Spencer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for East Spencer; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in East Spencer, NC? +

A typical home in East Spencer is worth $108,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.