City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Spencer, NY

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

848
Residents
$50,682
Median income
$139,200
Median home
$1,103
Median rent (state)

Spencer - the verdict

Spencer ranks in the 20th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

20th
percentile, household income
24th
percentile, home value
29th
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: Spencer, NY

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 848 residents in Spencer, a small town within New York. Spencer households earn a median of $50,682 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 20.4%. Typical homes in Spencer are valued around $139,200, and the median resident age is 34.5 years. 25.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 55.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Spencer (No Permits), per Census BPS data. NOAA puts Spencer's yearly average temperature at 45.6°F.

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts New York at 107.9 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,103 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New York run around $285, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 59.9 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

848 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$50,682 /yr

Poverty 20.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York average

How does Spencer compare to other US cities?

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 20% higher than other cities
Home value 24% pricier than other cities
Median rent 29% 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 Spencer against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New York only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New York-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Spencer's strongest outlier among New York cities

Among the 1,246 New York cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Spencer ranks #86 - the 93rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Spencer only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,081 of 1,205
10th percentile in New York
Median Gross Rent
#1,060 of 1,256
14th percentile in New York
Median Home Value
#918 of 1,202
24th percentile in New York
Poverty Rate
#86 of 1,246
93rd percentile in New York
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#844 of 1,254
33rd percentile in New York

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 New York only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

20thIncome percentile

20th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Spencer's home value compares nationally

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

$139,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 76% 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. 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 - Spencer, NY Spencer, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Spencer, NY-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 Spencer, NY median $50,682/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%
Spencer, NY'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 Spencer, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.3%

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

Population
848
Median Income
$50,682
Median Home Value
$139,200
Median Age
34.5
Poverty Rate
20.4%
Labor force participation
55.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.2%

Climate

Avg Temperature
45.6°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
Annual Snowfall
N/A

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 →
680 residents700 residents720 residents740 residents 202020212022202320242025 724 residents 688 residents ▼ -5.0%
Spencer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 1
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.5%
Carpool
2.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
9.6%
Other
7.6%

Based on 353 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New York - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$65
avg/month
Total Utilities
$285
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New York 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 New York state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Spencer sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,103/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
59.9 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Hannawa Falls
847 people
Castile
844 people
Quiogue
853 people
Millwood
854 people
Nassau Lake
841 people
Napanoch
837 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Spencer's 848 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Jennings, FL
848 people
Elgin, IA
848 people
Blowing Rock, NC
848 people
Bechtelsville, PA
848 people
Ridge Spring, SC
848 people
Cross Timber, TX
848 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Spencer's $50,682 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Tappen, ND
$50,682 median income
Streetman, TX
$50,682 median income
Warroad, MN
$50,685 median income
Curwensville, PA
$50,679 median income
Clio, MI
$50,678 median income
Slovan, PA
$50,688 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Spencer, NY 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 Spencer, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.7% White 97.9% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 0.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.1% 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 Spencer compares to nearby New York cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Spencer (this city) 848 $50,682
Hannawa Falls 847 $95,893
Castile 844 $58,625
Quiogue 853 $78,661
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Spencer, NY?

What is the population of Spencer, NY? +

848 people live in Spencer, NY according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Spencer, NY? +

Median annual household income in Spencer runs $50,682, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Spencer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Spencer; the closest available measure is the New York state average, a cost of living index of 107.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New York vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Spencer, NY? +

Homes in Spencer carry a median value of $139,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Spencer? +

The average annual temperature in Spencer runs 45.6°F. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.