At a Glance
Median Income
$31,932
$12,685 per capita
Home Value
$101,800
Zillow: $168,779
Median Rent
$1,125/mo
51.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
129/100K
1,180/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
7.1%
65.9% high school+
Unemployment
6.1%
53.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
36.1%
12.5% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
66°F
330 sunny days/yr
How Sparks Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Sparks's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Sparks a Good Place to Live?
C
2.3 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Sparks residents earn a median household income of $31,932 , which is 58% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $12,685. The unemployment rate stands at 6.1% (69% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 53.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 16,825 business establishments, including 1,853 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Sparks is $101,800 , 64% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $168,779. Median rent is $1,125/month, with 51.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1993.
Safety & Crime
Sparks reports 129 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 66% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,180/100K.
Education
7.1% of adults in Sparks hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(79% below the national average).
65.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Sparks has an average annual temperature of 66°F (19°C).
Winters average 47°F in January while summers reach 84°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 8.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 42.
Data Overview
People
Population4,936
Median Age25.1 yrs
Density3,526/mi²
Male / Female51% / 50%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans2.8%
Economy
D
Median Income$31,932
Per Capita$12,685
Unemployment6.1%
Poverty53.6%
County GDP$53,333M
Avg Weekly Wage$966
Housing
A+
Home Value$101,800
Rent$1,125
Ownership72.3%
Zillow$168,779
Housing Units1,424
Rent Burden51.0%
Crime
F
Violent129/100K
Property1,180/100K
Health
Obesity36.1%
Diabetes17.0%
Smoking12.5%
Heart Disease6.0%
Premature Death8,160/100K
Climate
Avg Temp66°F
Sunny Days330/yr
Rain8.8 in/yr
AQI42 (Good)
Elevation3,816 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+7.1%
High School+65.9%
Graduate+0.8%
School Score5.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 42% / D 57%
Commute24 min
Broadband89.1%
Internet Speed173 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries18
Did You Know?
The median home in Sparks was built in 1993.
The nearest airport is El Paso International (12 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.466 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
15.7% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 173 Mbps.
There are 1,853 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 83 fatal vehicle crashes.