City Score: Spencer, NC

The score

Spencer, NC scores 36 out of 100 on the Joy Project City Score, status Liberty since Oct 2026. Condition 39 (the city from public data, 60%) and Movement 31 (how the church is moving, 40%). How the score is built.

Condition: Partly North Carolina state-wide (3 of 4 indexes)

Read state-wide: North Carolina

State-wide for Burden and Liberty: the numbers for Violent crime, Property crime, Legal gambling, Religious Liberty in the States score, Safeguards fully in law, State Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Anti-Christian hate crimes, School choice, Protections for the unborn, Homeschool freedom, and Tone of news coverage of Christianity are published for North Carolina as a whole, not by city, so every North Carolina city carries North Carolina's numbers.

North Carolina scores 35 out of 100, Liberty since Oct 2026 (Condition 37 · Movement 32).

These numbers change at the state. A petition started from any North Carolina city reaches North Carolina's officials, and North Carolina's own score moves with them.

Start a petition for North Carolina in the Joy app.

What's moving it

• 16 prayer gatherings (Prayer, listed from church websites)
• 191 ways to serve (Service, listed from church websites)
• 225 gatherings (Gathering, listed from church websites)
• 372 churches listed (Unity, listed from church websites)
• 102 Bible studies (Discipleship, listed from church websites)

The condition of Spencer, NC

• What Spencer is up against: 60 out of 100 — Better than 23% of cities, up 3 points (North Carolina state-wide)
• Where grace is growing: 34 out of 100 — Better than 62% of cities (From Rowan County, NC)
• Marriage & family: 55 out of 100 — Better than 58% of cities, up 5 points
• Christian liberty: 25 out of 100 — Better than 15% of cities, up 3 points (North Carolina state-wide)

Christianity on the Move in Spencer, NC

A non-biased rating of Christian values across the cultural areas of impact, from public data: 1 to 100, higher is more favourable. Spencer, NC rates 45 out of 100: Stirring across 7 of 8 areas. The rating is public data only; how the church is moving in each area this week is shown beside it and never blended in. How it is built.

The Church: 33 out of 100, Lukewarm

Faith institutions, spiritual leadership and worship spaces. Key measure: Church adherents (475.1 adherents per 1,000 residents, Rowan County, NC). From Rowan County, NC. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (16 prayer gatherings, 191 ways to serve, and 225 gatherings).

The Family: 55 out of 100, Mending

The core social unit: marriages, children and household structures. Key measure: Children with married parents (76.7 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, Spencer, NC). The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (102 Bible studies).

Education: 83 out of 100, Wise

Schools, universities and systems of learning. Key measure: School choice (2 0-2, North Carolina). North Carolina state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (102 Bible studies).

Government: 19 out of 100, Oppressive

Public policy, law, safety and civic governance. Key measure: Religious Liberty in the States score (33.1 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, North Carolina). North Carolina state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 13 out of 100.

Media: 44 out of 100, Mixed

News, journalism and digital communication. Key measure: Tone of news coverage of Christianity (-0.6 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), North Carolina). North Carolina state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 25 out of 100.

Arts & Entertainment: 45 out of 100, Mixed

Film, music, sports and cultural storytelling. From Spencer, NC's other areas. The church's movement in it this week: 25 out of 100.

Business: 36 out of 100, Tightfisted

Commerce, generosity and the marketplace. Key measure: Charitable giving (1.1 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, Rowan County, NC). From Rowan County, NC. The church's movement in it this week: 36 out of 100.

Compassion: 47 out of 100, Stirring

Mercy toward people in trouble: addiction, recovery, children in care and neighbors serving. Key measure: Drug overdose deaths (21.9 deaths per 100,000, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (6 counties summed)). From the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (6 counties summed) area. The church's movement in it this week: 43 out of 100 (191 ways to serve).

What takes Spencer, NC to Revival

• City Pulse: City Pulse 3 → 40
• Unity: Unity 22 → 45
• Prayer: Prayer 0 → 45
• Discipleship: Discipleship 0 → 45

What affected it

• This quarter: Adults 25-44 married up 22 percentile points (Marriage & family)
• This quarter: Divorces down 10 percentile points (Marriage & family)
• This quarter: Property crime down 9 percentile points (What Spencer is up against)

Spencer, NC over time

• Oct 2026 — Entered Liberty

Sources

1. Violent crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · North Carolina · fetched Oct 29, 2026
2. Property crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · North Carolina · fetched Oct 29, 2026
3. Sexually transmitted infections: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus · fetched Oct 28, 2026
4. Drug overdose deaths: CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR) · 2025 · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (6 counties summed) · fetched Oct 28, 2026
5. Legal gambling: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · North Carolina · fetched Nov 4, 2026
6. Adult entertainment outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
7. Gambling outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
8. Cannabis outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
9. Liquor outlets and bars: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
10. Predatory lenders: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
11. Abortion facilities (mapped): OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
12. Church adherents: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Rowan County, NC · fetched Oct 28, 2026
13. Congregations: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Rowan County, NC · fetched Oct 28, 2026
14. Charitable giving: IRS Statistics of Income, county data · 2023 · Rowan County, NC · fetched Oct 28, 2026
15. Given to local needs in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 37159 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
16. Needs met in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 37159 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
17. Volunteers mobilized in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 37159 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
18. New believers in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 37159 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
19. Searches for a church in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 37159 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
20. Foster and adoptive families in the churches: Church workspace entries (church-attested) · 2026-11 · 37159 (1 city summed) · fetched Nov 4, 2026 · verified in Joy
21. Christian colleges and universities: NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges) · 2024 · county · fetched Nov 10, 2026
22. Children with married parents: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Spencer, NC · fetched Oct 28, 2026
23. Adults 25-44 married: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Rowan County, NC · fetched Oct 28, 2026
24. Cohabiting households: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Spencer, NC · fetched Oct 28, 2026
25. Divorces: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · North Carolina · fetched Oct 28, 2026
26. Marriages: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · North Carolina · fetched Oct 28, 2026
27. Births to unmarried mothers: CDC WONDER · fetched Oct 28, 2026
28. Religious Liberty in the States score: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · North Carolina · fetched Oct 28, 2026
29. Safeguards fully in law: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · North Carolina · fetched Oct 28, 2026
30. State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · North Carolina · fetched Oct 28, 2026
31. Anti-Christian hate crimes: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · North Carolina · fetched Oct 29, 2026
32. School choice: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · North Carolina · fetched Nov 4, 2026
33. Protections for the unborn: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · North Carolina · fetched Nov 4, 2026
34. Homeschool freedom: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · North Carolina · fetched Nov 4, 2026
35. Tone of news coverage of Christianity: GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity) · 2026-11 · North Carolina · fetched Nov 10, 2026

City Score over time

The last 6 weeks, Spencer, NC, North Carolina, and United States side by side. The Condition moves by the quarter; the week-to-week line is how the church is moving.

Compare Spencer, NC

• Spencer, NC vs Chesapeake, VA (Chesapeake, VA scores 38)
• Spencer, NC vs Raleigh, NC (Raleigh, NC scores 32)
• Spencer, NC vs Greensboro, NC (Greensboro, NC scores 29)
• Spencer, NC vs Durham, NC (Durham, NC scores 31)
• Spencer, NC vs Wilmington, NC (Wilmington, NC scores 30)

Every indicator

What Spencer is up against — 60 out of 100

• Violent crime: 325.1 offences per 100,000, better than 41% of cities, up 5 points · 2025, North Carolina · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Property crime: 1765.6 offences per 100,000, better than 24% of cities, down 9 points · 2025, North Carolina · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Sexually transmitted infections: not shown (no data) · CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus
• Drug overdose deaths: 21.9 deaths per 100,000, better than 47% of cities, up 8 points · 2025, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (6 counties summed) · CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR)
• Legal gambling: 2 0-3, better than 45% of cities · 2026, North Carolina · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Adult entertainment outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Gambling outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Cannabis outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Liquor outlets and bars: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Predatory lenders: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Abortion facilities (mapped): not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)

Where grace is growing — 34 out of 100

• Church adherents: 475.1 adherents per 1,000 residents, better than 50% of cities · 2020, Rowan County, NC · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Congregations: 18.9 congregations per 10,000 residents, better than 43% of cities · 2020, Rowan County, NC · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Charitable giving: 1.1 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, better than 71% of cities · 2023, Rowan County, NC · IRS Statistics of Income, county data
• Given to local needs in Joy: 0 dollars per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 37159 (1 city summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Needs met in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 37159 (1 city summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Volunteers mobilized in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 37159 (1 city summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• New believers in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 37159 (1 city summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Searches for a church in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 37159 (1 city summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Foster and adoptive families in the churches: 0 per 100,000 residents, better than 0% of cities · 2026-11, 37159 (1 city summed) · Church workspace entries (church-attested) · verified in Joy
• Christian colleges and universities: 12.9 per million residents, better than 93% of cities · 2024 · NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges)

Marriage & family — 55 out of 100

• Children with married parents: 76.7 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, better than 63% of cities · 2020-2024, Spencer, NC · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Adults 25-44 married: 50.9 % of people 25-44 married, spouse present, better than 54% of cities, up 22 points · 2020-2024, Rowan County, NC · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Cohabiting households: 9.1 % of households that are cohabiting couples, better than 26% of cities · 2020-2024, Spencer, NC · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Divorces: 14.1 divorced in the last 12 months per 1,000 married people, better than 47% of cities, down 10 points · 2020-2024, North Carolina · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Marriages: 35.2 married in the last 12 months per 1,000 unmarried people 15+, better than 68% of cities · 2020-2024, North Carolina · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Births to unmarried mothers: not shown (no data) · CDC WONDER

Christian liberty — 25 out of 100

• Religious Liberty in the States score: 33.1 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, better than 17% of cities, up 4 points · 2026, North Carolina · Religious Liberty in the States
• Safeguards fully in law: 4 of the edition's safeguards, better than 9% of cities · 2026, North Carolina · Religious Liberty in the States
• State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: 0 1 = full protection, 0 = none, better than 20% of cities · 2026, North Carolina · Religious Liberty in the States
• Anti-Christian hate crimes: 0.2 incidents per 100,000, better than 7% of cities · 2025, North Carolina · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• School choice: 2 0-2, better than 86% of cities · 2026, North Carolina · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Protections for the unborn: 1 0-2, better than 64% of cities · 2026, North Carolina · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Homeschool freedom: 1 0-2, better than 31% of cities · 2026, North Carolina · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Tone of news coverage of Christianity: -0.6 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), better than 44% of cities · 2026-11, North Carolina · GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity)

Quote and download

Cite it as: Joy Project City Score v1.0, Spencer, NC, 2026-Q4, joyproject.com/cities/spencer-nc/score

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• How the score is built (methodology)
• The Q4 2026 release: rankings and every state's table

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