City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Spindale, NC

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

4,244
Residents
$38,509
Median income
$130,800
Median home
$925
Median rent (state)

Spindale - the verdict

Spindale ranks in the 7th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

7th
percentile, household income
21st
percentile, home value
7th
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: Spindale, NC

4,244 people live in Spindale, North Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Spindale households earn a median of $38,509 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 13.9%. Typical homes in Spindale are valued around $130,800, and the median resident age is 44.9 years. About 14.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 47.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $925 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across North Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 72.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

4,244 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$38,509 /yr

Poverty 13.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Spindale compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 21% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% 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 Spindale 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

Median Gross Rent places Spindale near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Spindale ranks #552 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Spindale only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#603 of 700
14th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#552 of 746
0th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#535 of 708
24th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#267 of 746
64th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#549 of 746
26th 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.

7thIncome percentile

7th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Spindale's home value compares nationally

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

$130,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Spindale $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 - Spindale, NC Spindale, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Spindale, 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 Spindale, NC median $38,509/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%
Spindale, 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 Spindale, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.8%

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

Population
4,244
Median Income
$38,509
Median Home Value
$130,800
Median Age
44.9
Poverty Rate
13.9%
Labor force participation
47.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.3%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,050 residents4,100 residents4,150 residents4,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,091 residents 4,180 residents ▲ +2.2%
Spindale's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.5%
Carpool
12.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
7.6%
Other
2.4%

Based on 1,734 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 Spindale sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$925/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
72.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Franklin
4,221 people
Mount Olive
4,204 people
Wingate
4,169 people
Sunset Beach
4,326 people
Surf City
4,160 people
Benson
4,144 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Spindale's 4,244 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hometown, IL
4,244 people
Osawatomie, KS
4,244 people
Spackenkill, NY
4,244 people
Harbison Canyon, CA
4,245 people
Garden Ridge, TX
4,243 people
West Peoria, IL
4,246 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Spindale's $38,509 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Greenway, AR
$38,500 median income
Canon, GA
$38,500 median income
Golden City, MO
$38,500 median income
Bridgewater, SD
$38,500 median income
Norton, VA
$38,497 median income
Sunol, NE
$38,490 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Spindale, 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 Spindale, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.0% 14.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.0% White 80.0% Black or African American 14.2% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.8% Two or more races 3.2% 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 Spindale 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
Spindale (this city) 4,244 $38,509
Franklin 4,221 $43,991
Mount Olive 4,204 $45,869
Wingate 4,169 $65,208
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Spindale, NC?

What is the population of Spindale, NC? +

The population of Spindale, NC stands at 4,244 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Spindale, NC? +

Median annual household income in Spindale runs $38,509, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Spindale? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Spindale; 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 Spindale, NC? +

The median home value in Spindale is $130,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.