Spencer, MA · standard
ZIP Code 01562
Worcester County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 11,688
- 137/sq mi High-density area
- $80,533
- Median income Near-median income area
- $382,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 29.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Spencer pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 37%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 23%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 137
- people per sq mi
- 63%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 01562 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 01562 (Spencer, MA) rose +7.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 239.8 in 2023 to 257.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 01562 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Spencer, Worcester County, Massachusetts, home to 11,688 residents across 85.1 square miles, a density of 137 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 01562 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $80,533 (30% below the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $45,204. The poverty rate is 11.0%, with unemployment at 7.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $382,000 (36% below the average Massachusetts ZIP), and median rent is $1,078; owner occupancy is 63.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.9, and the average commute is 34 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Worcester County, so 01562 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 01562
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Spencer, MA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 01562.
- Construction
Construction
46 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
26 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
24 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
24 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
22 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 01562, Spencer, MA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
11,688
Population
85.1
Area (sq mi)
137
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 01562?
48.9
Median Age
50.6%
Male
49.4%
Female
3.6%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$80,533
Median Household Income
-30% vs state ZIP avg
$45,204
Per Capita Income
11.0%
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Unemployment Rate
34.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 01562 ranks among Massachusetts ZIPs
Spencer, MA household income vs. every Massachusetts ZIP code
Median household income among 505 reporting Massachusetts ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$80,533 20th percentile higher than 20% of 505 Massachusetts ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Massachusetts ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
5,695housing units
5,695
Total Housing Units
5,201
Occupied Units
494
Vacant Units
2.29
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$382,000
Median Home Value
-36% vs state ZIP avg
$1,078
Median Rent
1968
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.4%
YoY Change (2024)
257
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+157%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 01562 have increased 7.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +157% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.2% | 169 |
| 2021 | +16.3% | 196 |
| 2022 | +10.9% | 218 |
| 2023 | +10.2% | 240 |
| 2024 | +7.4% | 257 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 219 business establishments in ZIP 01562, employing approximately 2,590 people with a combined annual payroll of $151,286,000.
219
Businesses
2,590
Employees
$151.3M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 46 | 21.0% |
| Retail trade | 26 | 11.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 24 | 11.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 24 | 11.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 22 | 10.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 21 | 9.6% |
| Manufacturing | 10 | 4.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 10 | 4.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 9 | 4.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 2.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 5 | 2.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 1.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 1.8% |
| Information | 3 | 1.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 01562 vs 01524 →
ZIP 01562 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 01603
Worcester (01603)
19,916 residents
- 01507
Charlton (01507)
12,981 residents
- 01562
Spencer (01562)
11,688 residents
- 01543
Rutland (01543)
7,973 residents
- 01524 6,696
Leicester (01524)
6,696 residents
- 01612 4,845
Paxton (01612)
4,845 residents
- 01535 4,680
North Brookfield (01535)
4,680 residents
- 01611 2,242
Cherry Valley (01611)
2,242 residents
- 01542 2,202
Rochdale (01542)
2,202 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 01562 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 01562 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 01543
Rutland (01543)
$145,707 median income
- 01612
Paxton (01612)
$134,083 median income
- 01507
Charlton (01507)
$117,587 median income
- 01611
Cherry Valley (01611)
$109,868 median income
- 01524
Leicester (01524)
$102,099 median income
- 01068
Oakham (01068)
$102,000 median income
- 01542
Rochdale (01542)
$96,111 median income
- 01515
East Brookfield (01515)
$81,042 median income
- 01562
Spencer (01562)
$80,533 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 01562 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01524 | Leicester, MA | 6,696 | 3.7 mi |
| 01515 | East Brookfield, MA | 2,183 | 4.1 mi |
| 01535 | North Brookfield, MA | 4,680 | 4.7 mi |
| 01611 | Cherry Valley, MA | 2,242 | 5.9 mi |
| 01612 | Paxton, MA | 4,845 | 5.4 mi |
| 01542 | Rochdale, MA | 2,202 | 5.2 mi |
| 01507 | Charlton, MA | 12,981 | 7.8 mi |
| 01603 | Worcester, MA | 19,916 | 7.5 mi |
| 01068 | Oakham, MA | 1,902 | 7.6 mi |
| 01543 | Rutland, MA | 7,973 | 9.6 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 01562, both outside MA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (11,688 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Worcester County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 01562 in?
ZIP code 01562 (Spencer) is located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Worcester County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/worcester-ma.
What is the population of ZIP code 01562?
ZIP code 01562 in Spencer, MA has a population of 11,688 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 01562?
The median household income in ZIP 01562 is $80,533, which is 6% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 01562?
The median home value in ZIP 01562 is $382,000, which is 37% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 01562?
The largest racial group in ZIP 01562 is White at 91.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 01562?
ZIP code 01562 has 219 business establishments employing approximately 2,590 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 01562?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 01562 are: Construction (46), Retail trade (26), Accommodation and food services (24). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 01562?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 01562 increased by 7.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 157%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 01562?
In ZIP code 01562, 67.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 01562?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 01562 is 34.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 01562?
In ZIP code 01562, approximately 63.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 37.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 01562?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 01562 is 11.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 01562's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 01562 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Spencer, MA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.