The Town FilesSpencer, West Virginia
City in Roane County · population 2,063 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,800
- Household income
- $37,639
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.8
Spencer is a city of 2,063 people in Roane County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $116,800, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks more vibrant than 73% of West Virginia towns.
How Spencer ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Spencer is worth $116,800, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $37,639, which is more affordable than 24% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $738 a month. 56.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Spencer | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,800 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $738 | $811 |
| Median household income | $37,639 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 56.9% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Spencer
| People | Spencer | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.5% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Spencer
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 47.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.2 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Spencer since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 12, 1989 about 2.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 12, 1989.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.30 inches on September 30, 2016.
Severe weather in Roane County since 1996
Roane County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, chemical, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4756: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Roane County
Roane County had 2,885 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,194 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Spencer itself the ACS puts it at 16.5%.
Public schools in Spencer
3 public schools with 1,260 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roane County High | 9-12 | 518 | 16.7 |
| Spencer Elementary School | PK-4 | 427 | 13.3 |
| Spencer Middle School | 5-8 | 315 | 11.3 |
Towns near Spencer
- Elizabeth, WV18.3 mi · 724 people · home $87,400
- Ripley, WV19.2 mi · 3,079 people · home $121,800
- Clendenin, WV21.8 mi · 854 people · home $116,300
- Ravenswood, WV24.5 mi · 3,865 people · home $97,600
- Sissonville, WV25.6 mi · 4,084 people · home $180,800
- Elkview, WV26.3 mi · 1,116 people · home $125,000
- Mineralwells, WV27.7 mi · 1,805 people · home $155,100
- Pinch, WV28.0 mi · 2,914 people · home $221,500
Spencer questions
Is Spencer, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Spencer scores better for retirees than 11% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 31%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Spencer?
The median owner-occupied home in Spencer is valued at $116,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,639, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $738 a month.
What is the weather like in Spencer?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 24.2 inches of snow.
Does Spencer get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Spencer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 12, 1989. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)