Spencer is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, home to about 3,349 people across 3.1 square miles. Its ZIP code is 28159, and parts of 28144 are in Spencer too.
Homes sold for a median of $165 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Spencer
Mostly Salisbury; part is in Spencer
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Spencer. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Spencer’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Spencer well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)41 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA)25 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Winston-Salem, NC31 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Philadelphia, PA417 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Spencer; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Spencer had 3,308 residents in the 2020 census, down 1% since 2000.
It’s the 240th largest of 771 towns in North Carolina by population.
Rowan County grew from 31,066 residents in 1900 to 146,875 in 2020.
Rowan County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 88°F in summer, and winter lows average 29°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 2 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Salisbury, NC weather station (2 miles away).
49,366 jobs at 2,908 businesses in Rowan County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
16 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Spencer.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Specialist doctors | 1 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 3 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 4 |
| Mental health providers | 2 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 6 |
| Pharmacies | 2 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (12 nearby)
Grocery stores
Pharmacies
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (2 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 1.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Established in 1905.
Notable people born here
Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.
Public schools here are run by Rowan-Salisbury Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Rowan ElementarySpencer | Pre-K–5 | 405 | Public | 2.2 mi |
| North Rowan MiddleSpencer | 6–8 | 649 | Public | 2.2 mi |
| North Rowan HighSpencer | 9–12 | 555 | Public | 1.8 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Spencer? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Salisbury and East Spencer.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.