Living in Sparta, Tennessee
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Sparta · Census data 2020–2024
Sparta has 4,939 residents with a median age of 46.8. The median household income is $50,080 (28% lower than the Tennessee median), the median home value is $217,000, the median rent is $731/month.
Sparta at a glance
- Population
- 4,939
- Median age
- 46.8State: 38.9
- Median household income
- $50,080State: $69,595
- Median home value
- $217,000State: $286,700
- Median rent
- $731/moState: $1,189
- Homeowners
- 67.5%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 19.2%
- Average commute
- 17 min
Is Sparta a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 24% lower than the state median; an average commute of 17 minutes.
Cons: Median household income 28% lower than the Tennessee median; unemployment of 7.8%; a poverty rate of 14.3%.
The weather is best in April–May and September–October.
Cost of living in Sparta
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Sparta the median home value is $217,000, 35% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $731 per month, which is 22% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,193 a month in housing costs.
Sparta median household income
The median household income in Sparta is $50,080 and the income per person is $29,020. 14.3% of residents live below the poverty line (Tennessee: 13.8%).
Housing in Sparta: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 2,334
- Owner-occupied
- 67.5%
- Renter-occupied
- 32.5%
- Vacant
- 7.5%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1968
- Average household size
- 2.14
Sparta demographics
- Population
- 4,939
- Median age
- 46.8
- Under 18
- 15.6%
- 65 and older
- 27%
- Households
- 2,159
- Foreign-born
- 1.3%
- Veterans
- 4.7%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Sparta ›
Education in Sparta
19.2% of adults 25 and older in Sparta have a bachelor's degree or higher (Tennessee: 31.1%), and 4.8% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Sparta
- Unemployment rate
- 7.8%State: 4.7%
- Average commute
- 17 minState: 26 min
- Work from home
- 9%
- Drive alone
- 87.8%
- Public transit
- 0%
- Walk to work
- 0%
- Homes with broadband
- 93.3%
Sparta vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta | 4,939 | $50,080 | $217,000 | $731 |
| Bon Air | 205 | $63,750 | — | — |
| Doyle | 532 | $39,808 | $164,300 | $1,005 |
| Spencer | 1,511 | $46,705 | $150,800 | $575 |
| Cookeville | 36,088 | $51,375 | $305,400 | $917 |
| Pleasant Hill | 514 | $51,406 | $175,000 | $1,261 |
| Baxter | 1,361 | $58,750 | $219,000 | $914 |
| Algood | 4,036 | $42,359 | $190,300 | $817 |
| Monterey | 2,768 | $45,922 | $165,000 | $715 |
More for people moving to Sparta
Sparta ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Sparta: FAQ
What is the median household income in Sparta, TN?
The median household income in Sparta is $50,080, 28% lower than the Tennessee median of $69,595 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Sparta?
The median home value in Sparta is $217,000, compared with $286,700 in Tennessee.
How much is rent in Sparta?
The median gross rent in Sparta is $731 per month, about 22% of household income.
Is Sparta, TN a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 24% lower than the state median; an average commute of 17 minutes. Minuses: median household income 28% lower than the Tennessee median; unemployment of 7.8%; a poverty rate of 14.3%.
What is the median age in Sparta?
The median age in Sparta is 46.8 years (Tennessee: 38.9).
How long is the commute in Sparta?
The average commute to work in Sparta is 17 minutes; 9% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Sparta?
The unemployment rate in Sparta is 7.8% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Sparta?
19.2% of adults in Sparta have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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