At $1,824/mo, rent takes about 37% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,824 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($59,931) is $1,498 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,170); a 2-bedroom is $1,500.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Spencer. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Spencer, MA is majority renter-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 16.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Spencer, MA has changed in 5 years
Household income in the area moved from $48,646 to $59,931 across the same window, up 23.2% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 5,743 to 5,661 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.4% change. About 59.8% of households rent today, against 61.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 11.1% to 16.8%.
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At $1,824/mo, how Spencer rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Spencer rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Spencer. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Spencer
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Spencer is $1,824/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,160/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,500/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,170/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,810/mo.
At 37% of local median household income ($59,931/yr), Spencer ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Spencer?
How does Spencer rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Spencer?
At $1,824/mo, rent takes ~37% of Spencer's median household income ($59,931/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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