Sign In Register

Spencer, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Rowan County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
3,305 Population 972/sq mi density
$64,031 Median Income $31,042 per capita
$149,800 Home Value $199,944 Zillow
$1,042 Median Rent 23.9% income on rent
59°F Avg Temperature 310 sunny days/yr
340 Violent Crime/100K 2,254 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$64,031 median income, 2.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$149,800 home value, $1,042/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
340 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.7 / 5.0
21.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Spencer enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 43.7 inches. The area receives 2.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

40°F Jan (4°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average59.3°F
10% above US avg
January Average40°F (4°C)
July Average78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days310 days/yr

Geography

Elevation704 ft (215 m)
Area3.1 sq mi (7.9 km²)
Population Density972/sq mi
Coordinates35.6990°N, 80.4264°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyRowan County County
Nearest AirportMid-Carolina Regional (SRW)
6 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 43.7"
15% above US avg
Snowfall 2.4"
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.21"
Driest Month (Nov) 3.11"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0475 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)7.2 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.0 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score82.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability42.9 / 100
Community Resilience48.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

16 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.9. Most recent: M2.6 on Jul 8, 2023.

Apr 13, 1998 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina M3.9 138 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 36 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 123 km
Mar 21, 2011 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina M2.9 111 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 116 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 149 km
Aug 30, 2010 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee M2.7 146 km
Jul 12, 1993 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina M2.7 66 km
Jun 10, 2018 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina M2.7 88 km
Aug 17, 2021 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina M2.7 114 km
Jul 8, 2023 Virginia-North Carolina border region M2.6 118 km
Feb 4, 2021 1 km SSW of Sparta, North Carolina M2.6 109 km
Oct 29, 2012 5 km SSE of West Marion, North Carolina M2.5 143 km
Jun 12, 2014 4 km NE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.5 122 km
Mar 26, 2019 8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina M2.5 56 km
Jul 29, 2012 7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina M2.5 114 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Hurricane History

12 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 3. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 289 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 266 km
2018 Florence Category 2 264 km
2016 Matthew Category 1 277 km
2004 Charley Category 1 264 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 269 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 290 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 287 km
1996 Fran Category 3 166 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 268 km
1989 Hugo Category 2 127 km
1984 Diana Category 4 271 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980-2026)

Tornado History

322 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 10 fatalities, 266 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 88 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 85 km 1
Mar 28, 2010 EF3 43 km 0
May 8, 2008 EF3 32 km 0
May 7, 1998 EF3 36 km 0
Mar 20, 1998 EF3 88 km 2
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 84 km 0
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 83 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF3 47 km 0
May 22, 1985 EF3 47 km 0
Oct 7, 1965 EF3 54 km 1
May 26, 2022 EF2 55 km 0
Mar 31, 2022 EF2 68 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 99 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 26 km 0
Apr 15, 2018 EF2 71 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 87 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 63 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 34 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 40 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

14 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (1,989 ac, 2000).

Year Name Acres Distance
2000 UNNAMED 1,989 76 km
2020 UWH NARROWS DAM RX 1,222 45 km
2021 GRINDSTONE 1,106 71 km
1985 UNNAMED 1,064 98 km
2002 UNNAMED 889 79 km
1992 COMP 6 B 737 77 km
2019 ROBEDO SOUTH RX 727 60 km
2018 UNNAMED 665 50 km
2024 COYOTE 663 97 km
2022 PINE ROAD 582 45 km
2022 UNNAMED 579 62 km
2020 UNNAMED 565 62 km
2009 UNNAMED 536 76 km
2024 0101/02_0202 PER RX 511 76 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 40°F (4°C) 3.6 in Coldest
February 42°F (6°C) 3.7 in
March 50°F (10°C) 4.2 in Wettest
April 58°F (15°C) 3.2 in
May 66°F (19°C) 4.0 in
June 74°F (23°C) 4.1 in
July 78°F (26°C) 4.1 in Warmest
August 76°F (25°C) 3.7 in
September 70°F (21°C) 3.6 in
October 59°F (15°C) 3.7 in
November 50°F (10°C) 3.1 in Driest
December 42°F (5°C) 3.4 in

Spencer has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 40°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.4 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.2") and November the driest (3.1").

View full weather details →