Spencer is a “quaint town” amid rural scenery
Spencer, Indiana, is a town of about 2,400 people amid the hilly and wooded farmland west of Bloomington . Along with offering more affordability than some of its neighbors, Spencer has a variety of recreation options and a walkable downtown with local restaurants, boutiques and other attractions. It's home to the Owen County Fair and neighbors McCormick’s Creek State Park, one of the region’s leading outdoor destinations. “It’s an older community,” says Michelle Stanger, a Realtor and owner of Stanger Homes. “And if you don’t mind the commute, you’re not too far from Bloomington. People should come to see it. It’s a nice little, quaint town.”
The town has many homes from the early 20th century
Homes here are along mostly gridded streets lined by mature trees. Spencer has some modern housing from the 2010s and 2020s, but many of its homes date back to the first half of the 20th century. Housing styles include Craftsman, gable-ell, Queen Anne and American Foursquares. The town also has manufactured homes and cottages with cross-gabled roofs and wide covered porches. Depending on size and lot acreage, most homes go from about $170,000 to $410,000. Overall, Spencer has lower housing costs than some other places in the region. The town’s median sale price of about $275,000 is $35,000 less than that of nearby Ellettsville and about $100,000 below Bloomington. “It’s definitely affordable there,” Stanger says of Spencer.
Historic downtown offers dining and shopping
The town’s historic downtown has some colorful, Italianate buildings, all located around the Neoclassical home of the Owen County Courthouse. Shoppers will find boutiques here with clothes, seasonal gifts and more. As for food, visitors may start their day at Main St Coffee & Kitchen, which has some owl-themed art on its outside walls. Chambers Smorgasbord has a buffet of comfort foods and desserts, while Jit’s Thai Bistro offers a little more variety. Craft beer fans may sample ales at Civilian Brewing Corps. Walmart and Save A Lot offer nearby grocery shopping, while the Owen County Farmers’ Market runs from May to September. Stanger says the dining staples in and outside the town are a convenience. “It’s where you don’t have to go all the way to Bloomington,” she says. “Or to Nashville [Indiana], and it would be an hour to get there.”
Amenities include local YMCA, trail system and state park
The town offers both indoor and outdoor recreational amenities. Cyclists, walkers and runners may get on the MYPath Trail System near the White River. The group of paths winds past trees, dense bushes and plants. Trail users might also spot metallic and wildlife-themed art along the way. The Owen County Family YMCA is here, offering facilities like an indoor track and pool. For even more activities, there’s McCormick’s Creek State Park. Hikers may see the park’s popular waterfall and get on over 10 miles of trails to explore its limestone canyon and forest. Visitors might also fish on the White River or swim at The Canyon Inn’s Olympic-sized pool.
Spencer-Owen Community Schools serves the town
Spencer-Owen Community Schools serves the town and gets a B-minus from Niche. The town is home to Spencer Elementary School, which gets a C. Students may then go to Owen Valley middle and high schools, which both receive B-minus grades. Owen Valley High’s programs include Jobs for America’s Graduates, which helps students enter the workforce by learning certain job skills. Students interested in joining the service may also sign up for Air Force Junior ROTC.
Spencer hosts county fair and other events at fairgrounds
In July, many come out here for the Owen County Fair. The roughly week-long event brings in entertainment like carnival rides, livestock shows and demolition derbies. The fairgrounds also host other events like bingo and line dancing nights.
State Road 46 connects town to Bloomington and Terre Haute
Indiana State Road 46 passes through Spencer, providing commuters a route to larger communities like Bloomington and Terre Haute . Spencer is less than 20 miles northwest of Bloomington and about 40 miles east of Terre Haute. IU Health Bloomington Hospital is the nearest medical facility, located in Bloomington. Travelers flying out of the state usually go to Indianapolis International Airport, nearly 50 miles northeast of Spencer.
