Spencer, Massachusetts Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Spencer, Massachusetts Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Spencer, Massachusetts had a total population of 5,661, the 113th largest community in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $59,931, which is 42% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 42% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.

Spencer Quick Facts

Population 5,661

Median Household Income $59,931

Median Home Value $341,300

Poverty Rate 15.8%

Unemployment Rate 6.4%

Median Age 53.4 years

Homeownership Rate 40.2%

Affordability Ratio 5.7x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.8%

High School Graduation Rate 87.4%

Diversity Index 19/100

Population 5,661 113th of 248

Median Income $59,931 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 15.8% 27% higher than national

Median Home Value $341,300 bottom 20%

How Spencer Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	5,520	5,661	+2.6%
Median household income	$59,618	$59,931	+0.5%
Median home value	$297,700	$341,300	+14.6%

How Spencer Compares

Median Household Income

Spencer

$59,931

$103,960

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Spencer

$341,300

$562,100

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 25.3%

$25K-$50K 18.1%

$50K-$100K 35.8%

$100K+ 20.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.3%

$10K-$15K

8.2%

$15K-$20K

6.5%

$20K-$25K

1.3%

$25K-$30K

2.3%

$30K-$35K

2.4%

$35K-$40K

3.3%

$40K-$45K

7.2%

$45K-$50K

2.9%

$50K-$60K

6.6%

$60K-$75K

12.9%

$75K-$100K

16.3%

$100K-$125K

2.9%

$125K-$150K

4.9%

$150K-$200K

3.3%

$200K+

9.6%

Employment

6.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%

56.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 40.2%

Renter 59.8%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,049/mo 21.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

12.0%

18-34

18.8%

35-54

20.2%

55-74

38.1%

75+

10.9%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 53 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Spencer Rankings in Massachusetts

#113 Population of 248

#225 Median Income of 241

#241 Education of 248

#205 Home Value of 242

Explore Massachusetts Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Worcester County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Worcester	207,055	$70,102	19.6%	$374,400
Leominster	43,909	$83,816	9.2%	$380,400
Fitchburg	41,798	$73,040	15.6%	$336,400
Milford	27,731	$93,310	8.4%	$464,700
Gardner	21,148	$67,518	13.7%	$301,600
Southbridge Town	17,928	$66,287	15.3%	$294,800
Webster	12,228	$63,837	16.0%	$333,100
Athol	8,801	$67,394	21.0%	$248,700
Clinton	7,658	$79,516	9.2%	$375,600
Whitinsville	7,115	$96,145	10.3%	$449,600

Cities Similar to Spencer

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
West Yarmouth	6,194	$65,841	$494,600	39.1%	9.1%
Adams	5,427	$48,775	$197,400	25.4%	15.1%
Bliss Corner	5,405	$75,420	$446,200	27.1%	9.0%
Oxford	5,671	$89,623	$345,700	31.2%	11.4%
Salisbury	5,656	$92,469	$465,900	50.6%	5.6%

Population Overview

Spencer is a small city located in Massachusetts, within Worcester County. The total population is 5,661. It ranks as the 113th most populous out of 248 Census-designated places in Massachusetts.

Age Demographics

The median age in Spencer is 53.4 years. This is 34% higher than the state median of 40.0 years. Only 12.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Spencer is $59,931. This is 42% lower than the state median of $103,960. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.8%. This is 57% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 24% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $341,300. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $562,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.7x. 40.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% lower than the state average of 62.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Spencer has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.5%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.5%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Asian population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 7.2%.

Education

16.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 64% lower than the state rate of 47.3%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Spencer, Massachusetts is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Massachusetts state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 248 Census-designated places in Massachusetts. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Spencer, Massachusetts?

Spencer, Massachusetts has a population of 5,661 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Spencer, MA?

The median household income in Spencer is $59,931, which is 26% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Spencer, MA?

The poverty rate in Spencer is 15.8%. This means approximately 893 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Spencer, Massachusetts?

Spencer's population is 90.0% White, 0.2% Black, 4.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 3.6% Asian.

What is the median home value in Spencer, MA?

The median home value in Spencer is $341,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.7x.

How educated is Spencer, Massachusetts?

16.8% of adults (25+) in Spencer hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.