Spencer is a small town of 1,469 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $41,042
and a 0.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Spencer stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Spencer is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Spencer city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 86.0
Spencer's overall cost of living index is 86.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Spencer costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Spencer, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$119,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$567
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$41,042
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Spencer's violent crime rate is 127.7 per 100,000 residents
— 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
127.7 /100k
Property Crime
638.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Spencer is served primarily by Van Buren County.
Metric
Spencer, TN
National Avg
School District
Van Buren County
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
6.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
74.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Spencer sees average highs of 45.7°F in January
and 84.8°F in July,
with 59.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Spencer's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Spencer roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $119,600 and median rent is $567/month.
Spencer's violent crime rate is 127.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 638.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Spencer are operated by Van Buren County.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
6.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Spencer, TN has a population of 1,469, a median household income of $41,042, and an unemployment rate of 0.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Spencer averages 45.7°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.0 inches
with about 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Spencer, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 38585.
The population of Spencer, Tennessee is 1,469 with a median age of 47.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Spencer: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $119,600, median household income $41,042, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Spencer side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
