$58,282Average Value$147Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
Bordering an industrial hub with major employers
The Spencer Park neighborhood used to be named after an actual park, which was situated around the Spencer School. But, as the railroad that ran by the park and school grew, the residential population declined, and the school closed. Today, the remaining neighborhood has a new green space further away from the tracks and is popular for those looking for proximity to industrial employers. "It's right next to a big industrial area," says Decatur City Councilman Patrick McDaniel. "People move there for proximity to ADM's facilities — ADM is one of the city's biggest employers." ADM is a food processing facility, so the smell of corn and soybean occasionally wafts through the neighborhood. In addition, the surrounding railroad tracks bring some noise to the area. However, Spencer Park has some of the lowest home prices in all of Decatur.
Decatur is an industrial hub and Spencer Park is in the center of the manufacturing region.
Caterpillar is one of the major employers in the area and Spencer Park is very close by.
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Affordable homes on sparse suburban streets
Spencer Park is a small neighborhood of about 200 houses built between the 1940s and 1980s. They're primarily low-slung ranch styles and bungalows around 1,000 square feet, less than average for Decatur. The prices here are also lower than average, around $30,000 to $60,000. Streets have a sparse suburban feel, with no sidewalks and grassy lawns. Many homes have less than a quarter acre for a yard, but there are a few properties with upwards of half an acre. It's not a heavily manicured area, but homes here feel authentically lived in — with pinwheels or playsets in yards and boats or trailers in driveways.
Near the park, sunny lawns are most of what is seen in the Spencer Pak neighborhood.
Modest homes are the norm in the Spencer Park neighborhood of Decatur.
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A neighborhood park and ADM employee-only gym
The neighborhood's Locke Park is less than a mile away from all homes. The park was built in 2013 as part of the city's effort to give the neighborhood a green space that would be less affected by the noise of trains. Locke Park has a playground, basketball court and short paved walking trail, as well as a small pavilion with one picnic table. The former site of Spencer Park, the neighborhood's namesake, was sold to ADM and transformed into the ADM Wellness Center. Company employees and their spouses can freely use the center, which has cardio machines, weightlifting equipment and occasional fitness classes. Locals who work for ADM enjoy being able to walk to their complimentary gym.
A wellness center for ADM employees is at the edge of the Spencer Park neighborhood.
The walking path and playground at Locke Park are always available for Spencer Park residents.
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Faith Fellowship Christian Church is a cornerstone of the Spencer Park neighborhood.
Community at local churches and organizations
A sense of community in Spencer Park can be found at local churches and organizations on Decatur's east side. Among several churches in the area, Faith Fellowship Christian Church is the closest, and holds events like rummage sales and buffet dinners in addition to their regular church services. Three miles away, the Northeast Community Fund center has year-round events and provides a food pantry and free clothing room. "The Northeast Community Fund helps meet critical needs like food and bill assistance," says Decatur City Councilman David Horn. "Decatur has a whole network of really active support organizations — the city offers resources that its residents need to be successful."
Eisenhower High School provides a safe environment for students.
After-school programs and technology at Eisenhower High
Neighborhood kids attend Hope Academy, which serves kindergarten through eighth grade and gets a C-minus grade from Niche. Hope Academy is next to the Decatur Boys & Girls Club, which offers after-school youth programming. Then it's on to Eisenhower High School, rated C-plus. Eisenhower High partners with Richland Community College to allow students to graduate high school with an additional associate's degree. The high school also offers each student an iPad or laptop as part of their technology initiative.
Daily lunch specials at Debbie's Diner
The closest restaurant to Spencer Park is Debbie's Diner, which is hard to miss with its retro blue and white exterior. It's a family-owned spot where daily lunch specials are hand-written on the chalkboard, and there's a crowd of regulars. There's a small convenience store just across East Faries Parkway, but the closest grocery store is Save A Lot, which is 2 miles away.
Debbie's Diner is a great spot for breakfast and quite close to the Spencer Park neighborhood.
Debbie's Diner is the most popular breakfast spot near the Spencer Park neighborhood.
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Bus lines and noise from the railroad
Downtown Decatur is 4 miles away and is accessible via a bus line. The bus stop at East Faries Parkway and North 35th Street is served by bus 41, which connects to downtown, stopping along the way at Family Dollar and Debbie's Diner. A railroad track running down East Faries Parkway can make it challenging to get in and out of the neighborhood when a train goes by, and the proximity to the railroad brings some noise.
Busses connect the Spencer Park neighborhood with downtown Decatur with regular routes.
Trains going to the ADM plant whistle and rumble through the Spencer Park neighborhood.
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Written By
Catherine Lashley
Photography Contributed By
Jonathan Coon
Video By
Jacob Branchaud
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Agents Specializing in this Area
Randy Grigg
Vieweg RE/Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate-Service First
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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Spencer Park Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Spencer Park, Decatur sell after 20 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Spencer Park, Decatur over the last 12 months is $312,995.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$335,995
Median Sale Price
$312,995
Median Single Family Sale Price
$335,995
Median Change From 1st List Price
-3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
2
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$147
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
52
Number of Homes for Sale
0
Median Year Built
1927
Months of Supply
0.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,284
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Randy Grigg,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
312
Median Age
45
Population under 18
22.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.4%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$33,486
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$48,420
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
92.4%
College Graduates
7.1%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0%
% Population in Labor Force
59.3%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
3''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
28/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
9/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
