The Town FilesSpencer, Indiana
Town in Owen County · population 2,454 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,900
- Household income
- $48,378
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 51.7
Spencer is a town of 2,454 people in Owen County, Indiana. The median home is worth $162,900, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks hipper than 79% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 70% of Indiana towns.
How Spencer ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Spencer is worth $162,900, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $48,378, which is more affordable than 10% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 67.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Spencer | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,900 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $798 | $888 |
| Median household income | $48,378 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 67.1% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Spencer
| People | Spencer | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.7 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.1% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Spencer
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 20.2°F. About 49.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.8 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spencer since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 17, 2026 about 5.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 25, 2023.
Severe weather in Owen County since 1996
Owen County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4882: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Owen County
Owen County had 5,316 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,602 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Spencer itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Spencer
4 public schools with 1,928 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owen Valley Community High School | 9-12 | 650 | 12.7 |
| Spencer Elementary School | PK-6 | 557 | 15.1 |
| McCormick's Creek Elementary Sch | PK-6 | 383 | 16.0 |
| Owen Valley Middle School | 7-8 | 338 | 13.0 |
Towns near Spencer
- Gosport, IN7.2 mi · 842 people · home $108,300
- Ellettsville, IN8.8 mi · 6,655 people · home $243,600
- Paragon, IN13.5 mi · 556 people · home $104,100
- Bloomington, IN15.8 mi · 79,168 people · home $321,400
- Worthington, IN16.1 mi · 1,393 people · home $91,400
- Cloverdale, IN16.3 mi · 2,060 people · home $136,500
- Clay City, IN18.2 mi · 878 people · home $94,500
- Bloomfield, IN20.1 mi · 2,289 people · home $109,800
Spencer questions
Is Spencer, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Spencer scores better for retirees than 23% of Indiana towns and quieter than 45%. 30.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.7).
How much does a house cost in Spencer?
The median owner-occupied home in Spencer is valued at $162,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,378, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Spencer?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 20.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.7 inches of precipitation a year and 15.8 inches of snow.
Does Spencer get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spencer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 17, 2026. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)