A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Spencer's police department reported only 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Spencer 0.9

North Carolina 3.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Spencer 9.6

North Carolina 18.1

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Spencer

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Spencer for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Salisbury (24%), Charlotte (13%) and Concord (4%). Half commute less than 22 miles.

Salisbury

24%

Charlotte

13%

Concord

Winston-Salem

3%Work in townlive and work in Spencer 22 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,204Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Spencer →

Health in Spencer

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 23% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with North Carolina

13worse than NC

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 19 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▼ 9 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

20.6%More adults facing food insecurityNC 15.2% · worse 10.9%More adults facing a utility shut-offNC 8.1% · worse 16%More adults facing housing insecurityNC 12.2% · worse

Care nearby

Novant Health Rowan Medical CenterSalisbury · 3 mi · ER

Northern Rowan Family MedicineSpencer · 0.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Spencer · CMS · HRSAHealth in Spencer →

Natural hazards in Spencer

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 27% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

2Does Spencer flood?paid flood claims since 2020 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Spencer MapSpencer vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Spencer →

Climate in Spencer

Full climate →

Spencer has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

53° / 31°Winter

71° / 46°Spring

87° / 66°Summer

72° / 48°Fall

How much snow does Spencer get?About 2 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 30, with the last in spring around Apr 6.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Spencer →

Schools in Spencer

All Spencer schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Spencer’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 66% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Spencer’s schools compare in NC →

DistrictRowan-Salisbury SchoolsSchools3

North Rowan Elementary DElementary · Grades PK–5 · 405 students North Rowan Middle DMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 649 students North Rowan High DHigh · Grades 9–12 · 555 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NC. Ratings are from neighbors.