LeaseLantern

Cities›IA›Spencer

Affordable & Income-Based Housing in Spencer

Spencer, IA has 7 income-based rental properties with 213 total units available to renters who qualify. All 4 properties with inspection scores on record earned an excellent rating, signaling well-maintained housing stock. With a median rent of $805 per month according to Census ACS 5-Year data, affordable options here can offer meaningful savings for eligible households.

7
Properties
213
Total units
98/100
Avg HUD score

At a glance

🏠 Affordability
$805/mo

Affordability in Spencer, IA

According to Census ACS 5-Year data (as of 2024), the median monthly rent in Spencer is $805 and the median household income is $59,667. About 32% of Spencer residents rent their homes, and the 4 HUD-assisted properties tracked on this page offer income-based options that can help renters keep housing costs manageable.

Census ACS 5-Year
🛡️ Safety
61 / 100k · 2024

Safety

According to FBI Crime Data Explorer, the Spencer Police Department reported a violent crime rate of 61 per 100,000 residents in 2024. Crime rates are not directly comparable across cities due to differences in reporting practices and local definitions.

FBI Crime Data Explorer
🚶 Getting around
Walk Score 51 · Somewhat Walkable

Getting Around Spencer

According to Walk Score, the area around assisted properties in Spencer scores 51 out of 100 (Somewhat Walkable) and a Bike Score of 50 out of 100. No Transit Score is available, which is typical for smaller Iowa cities without formal public transit networks.

Walk Score
🎓 Schools
5 schools · 1 districts

Schools

According to NCES Common Core of Data, 5 public schools across 1 district serve Spencer, including 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school. Ratings vary by school, so renters should check the assigned schools for a specific address before signing a lease.

NCES Common Core of Data
📊 Cost of living
$59,667 median income

Cost of Living in Spencer, IA

The median household income in Spencer is $59,667 per year, according to Census ACS 5-Year data. The median monthly rent across all rental housing in the city is $805, according to the same source.

Income-based housing in Spencer is designed to keep rent affordable relative to what residents actually earn. Rents at HUD-assisted and LIHTC properties are typically capped as a percentage of Area Median Income, which can make them significantly lower than market-rate options.

Census ACS 5-Year
🌊 Environment & risk

Environment & Flood Risk

All 4 HUD-assisted properties in Spencer have been mapped for flood zone data, and none are located in a high-risk flood zone.

FEMA · EPA AirNow
HUD Inspection Scoresavg 98/100(4 of 7 scored)
90+ (4)No score (3)

7 properties on the map

Top-rated properties

Browse all 7 affordable apartments in Spencer→

Other cities in IA

› Affordable housing in Ankeny› Bettendorf income-based apartments› Income-restricted rentals in Burlington› Cedar Rapids affordable apartments› HUD & Section 8 housing in Council Bluffs› Affordable housing in Davenport› Des Moines income-based apartments› Income-restricted rentals in Dubuque› Iowa City affordable apartments› HUD & Section 8 housing in Le Mars› Affordable housing in Maquoketa› Marion income-based apartments

Your rights & resources

› How HUD & Section 8 housing works› Tenant rights in IA› Housing assistance & waitlists› Free legal aid (LawHelp)› Energy bill help (LIHEAP)

Read more

Affordable Housing in Spencer, IA

Spencer is a small northwest Iowa city with a modest but well-maintained affordable housing inventory. All 4 HUD-assisted or income-restricted properties tracked here earned an excellent inspection rating, and none carry high flood risk, according to HUD inspection data.

Roughly 32 percent of Spencer households rent their homes, according to Census ACS 5-Year data. The citywide median rent is $805 per month and the median household income is $59,667, also per Census ACS 5-Year estimates.

Spencer scores 51 ("Somewhat Walkable") and 50 for bikeability, according to Walk Score. The city reported a violent crime rate of 61 per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to FBI Crime Data Explorer figures from the Spencer Police Department.

Spencer is served by 1 school district with 5 public schools -- including 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school -- according to NCES Common Core of Data.

A Closer Look at Spencer

Eligibility & how to apply

Iowa income limits (2026)Iowa public housing authoritiesSection 8 waitlists in Iowa

Helpful guides

How Section 8 Vouchers WorkWhat Is Income-Based Housing?How to Apply for Affordable HousingSection 8 vs. LIHTCUnderstanding HUD Inspection ScoresHow Affordable Housing Waitlists Work
Research: what 22,600 HUD inspection scores reveal →