Spencer 61 Average
Spencer Livability #483 ranked city in North Carolina#17,697 ranked city in the USARanks better than 39% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Spencer

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Crime Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score might be a result of factors like lower than average education levels, lackluster reading and math scores and the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Through surveys and polls, AreaVibes obtained feedback from local residents in the area, and the results did not indicate a favorable outlook on factors like local amenities and the safety of the area.

What's it like Living in Spencer?

Spencer, North Carolina is a small-sized city with a population of 3,331 people. Spencer is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (54%) and Black or African American (38%). Spencer is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 49% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Spencer. With an average one way commute time of only 21 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a fulfilling experience if you are willing to get to know the city before actually living in Spencer, North Carolina. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. With useful information like cost of living, health & safety, education, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Spencer and in the areas around Spencer is a much easier task.

Spencer has a livability score of 59/100 and is ranked #518 in North Carolina and #18,781 in the USA. This is a poor rating when compared to the average of other places in the country. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Spencer ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+) Spencer does not rank well for the following: amenities (F) and education (F). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Spencer has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Spencer is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Spencer come in at $197,530, which is 31.8% lower than the North Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Spencer, the home price to income ratio is 2.4, which is 41.5% lower than the North Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Spencer

See all the best places to live around Spencer

How Do You Rate The Livability In Spencer?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Spencer, NC Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report

      Spencer transportation information

      Statistic Spencer North Carolina National
      Average one way commute21min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work77.9%81.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool2.7%9.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.2%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.2%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.6%1.8%2.8%
      Working from home6.3%4.8%4.6%
      Source: The Spencer, NC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.