The Town FilesSpencer, Iowa
City in Clay County · population 11,325 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,800
- Household income
- $59,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 41.4
Spencer is a city of 11,325 people in Clay County, Iowa. The median home is worth $184,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 97% of Iowa towns, better transit than 96% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 90% of Iowa towns.
How Spencer ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Spencer is worth $184,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $59,667, which is more affordable than 10% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $805 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Spencer | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $805 | $820 |
| Median household income | $59,667 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Spencer
| People | Spencer | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Spencer
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 7.0°F. About 31.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spencer since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 20, 1980 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 4, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 91 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 21, 2004.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 8,534 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,504 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Spencer itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Spencer
5 public schools with 2,161 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer High School | 9-12 | 718 | 18.0 |
| Spencer Middle School | 6-8 | 502 | 16.7 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | 3-5 | 462 | 15.4 |
| Fairview Park Elementary | 1-2 | 262 | 11.4 |
| Johnson Elementary | PK-K | 217 | 11.4 |
Towns near Spencer
- Milford, IA13.5 mi · 3,321 people · home $218,400
- Spirit Lake, IA18.7 mi · 5,439 people · home $215,100
- Estherville, IA23.7 mi · 5,904 people · home $101,400
- Emmetsburg, IA24.0 mi · 3,706 people · home $114,300
Spencer questions
Is Spencer, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Spencer scores better for retirees than 49% of Iowa towns and quieter than 10%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Spencer?
The median owner-occupied home in Spencer is valued at $184,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,667, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $805 a month.
What is the weather like in Spencer?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 7.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.0 inches of precipitation a year and 43.3 inches of snow.
Does Spencer get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spencer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 20, 1980. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)