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Buying a home in East Spencer, North Carolina

The typical owner-occupied home in East Spencer is worth about $112,000, 61% below the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 66% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $957 a year in property taxes, about 0.85% of their home's value, higher than the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $34,417 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 53% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 45% of those owners still have a mortgage.

East Spencer at a glance

East Spencer North Carolina U.S.
Median home value $112,000 $288,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $957 $1,896 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.85% 0.66% 0.94%
Median household income $34,417 $72,388 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 53% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 45% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,095 $1,631 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 26.0% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $677 $1,228 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 43.9% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1966 1991 1980
Vacant homes 7.6% 12.5% 10.1%
Population 1,434 10,730,404 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in East Spencer

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median East Spencer home of $112,000 with 20% down costs about $729 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $915, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $31,232 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 25% of the median East Spencer household income of $34,417; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $123,000.

The median rent here is $677 a month, so owning the median home costs about $52 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$22,400
Loan amount$89,600
Principal and interest$603
Property taxes (0.85% a year)$79
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$47
PMI$0
Total per month$729

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$3,920
Loan amount$109,971
Principal and interest$740
Property taxes (0.85% a year)$79
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$47
FHA mortgage insurance$50
Total per month$915

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Questions about home buying in East Spencer

What is the median home value in East Spencer?

About $112,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in East Spencer?

Homeowners pay a median $957 a year, which is about 0.85% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in East Spencer?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $729 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $31,232 a year.

More about East Spencer

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data