The Town FilesSpencer, Wisconsin
Town in Marathon County · population 1,586 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $268,600
- Household income
- $100,988
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 32.0
Spencer is a town of 1,586 people in Marathon County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $268,600, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 80% of Wisconsin towns.
How Spencer ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Spencer is worth $268,600, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $100,988, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $868 a month. 91.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Spencer | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $268,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $868 | $951 |
| Median household income | $100,988 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 91.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Spencer
| People | Spencer | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Spencer
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 24.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spencer since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 23, 2011 about 5.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 20, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on October 24, 2023.
Severe weather in Marathon County since 1996
Marathon County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marathon County
Marathon County had 70,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,976 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Spencer itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Spencer
- Spencer, WI3.1 mi · 1,818 people · home $155,400
- Marshfield, WI5.7 mi · 18,929 people · home $177,800
- Brighton, WI5.7 mi · 620 people · home $218,300
- McMillan, WI5.8 mi · 2,074 people · home $289,700
- Lincoln, WI5.8 mi · 1,593 people · home $307,400
- Sherman, WI6.2 mi · 831 people · home $230,200
- Fremont, WI8.0 mi · 1,312 people · home $173,300
- Eau Pleine, WI8.4 mi · 769 people · home $265,900
Spencer questions
Is Spencer, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Spencer scores better for retirees than 7% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 34%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.0).
How much does a house cost in Spencer?
The median owner-occupied home in Spencer is valued at $268,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,988, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $868 a month.
What is the weather like in Spencer?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.9 inches of precipitation a year and 57.1 inches of snow.
Does Spencer get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spencer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 23, 2011. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)