Spencer Cox, PhD

Spencer is an urban economist who has spent his 15 year career translating demographic, market, and real estate data into strategic recommendations for public sector agencies, leading nonprofits, and private sector clients. He prides himself on combining economic theory with rigorous data analysis and thoughtful community engagement, and translating insights derived through his research into engaging presentations that prioritize comprehension, understanding, and action. Housing remains his passion, viewing housing as a fundamental right and a key lever for socioeconomic mobility and resilient communities.

Before founding Herndon and Cox, he spent three years at Stantec where he wore many hats, including Data Scientist, Economist and Urban Planner. At Stantec he led more than 15 comprehensive Housing Needs Assessments and 20 real estate market studies for cities and counties across the Upper Midwest, automating and improving the firm's own study methodology along the way. He most recently served as a Senior Planner at the Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities, where he designed the regional Missing Middle Housing Project and helped build zoning policy frameworks, the housing nexus data tool, and model ordinances for municipalities, refining his housing policy expertise. His early career spanned pioneering labor market research, academic research on urban economics and policy, and roasting coffee, all applying rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods to understand regional economic development and apply those insights to guide strategy.

Spencer holds a PhD in Geography in Urban Economics from the University of Minnesota and a BA in Economics and Environmental Studies from Middlebury College. He wears his geographer badge proudly.