At a Glance
Median Income
$24,854
$15,325 per capita
Home Value
$56,500
Zillow: $219,765
Median Rent
$607/mo
49.1% of income on rent
Violent Crime
579/100K
827/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
7.7%
83.7% high school+
Unemployment
4.6%
43.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
47.8%
24.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
62°F
323 sunny days/yr
How Sparta Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Sparta's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Sparta a Good Place to Live?
C
2.4 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Sparta residents earn a median household income of $24,854 , which is 67% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $15,325. The unemployment rate stands at 4.6% (28% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 43.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 104 business establishments, including 38 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Sparta is $56,500 , 80% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $219,765. Median rent is $607/month, with 49.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1989.
Safety & Crime
Sparta reports 579 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 52% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 827/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
7.7% of adults in Sparta hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(77% below the national average).
83.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 3.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Sparta has an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C).
Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 323 sunny days per year. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 44.
Data Overview
People
Population1,827
Median Age26.5 yrs
Density1,009/mi²
Male / Female39% / 61%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans6.1%
Economy
D
Median Income$24,854
Per Capita$15,325
Unemployment4.6%
Poverty43.6%
County GDP$284M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,066
Housing
A+
Home Value$56,500
Rent$607
Ownership37.7%
Zillow$219,765
Housing Units759
Rent Burden49.1%
Crime
F
Violent579/100K
Property827/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault496/100K
Burglary248/100K
Health
Obesity47.8%
Diabetes20.9%
Smoking24.9%
Heart Disease8.1%
Premature Death14,606/100K
Climate
Avg Temp62°F
Sunny Days323/yr
AQI44 (Good)
Elevation560 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+7.7%
High School+83.7%
Graduate+3.9%
School Score3.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 48% / D 52%
Commute45 min
Broadband61.0%
Internet Speed15 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries1
Did You Know?
The median home in Sparta was built in 1989.
The nearest airport is Baldwin County Regional (14 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.456 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
11.8% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 6 fatal vehicle crashes.