City profile · Georgia · Census ACS 2023

Sparks, GA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Sparks - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,225
Residents
$39,141
Median income
$79,300
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Sparks - the verdict

Sparks ranks in the 7th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

7th
percentile, household income
3rd
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Sparks, GA

Georgia's Sparks is a small town, with 2,225 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Sparks households earn a median of $39,141 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 17.6%. Home values in Sparks run a median of $79,300, and the median resident age is 32.4 years. About 10.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 46.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Georgia run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Georgia scores 96.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $973 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Georgia run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 34.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

2,225 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Georgia

Median Household Income

$39,141 /yr

Poverty 17.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Georgia average

How does Sparks compare to other US cities?

Here's how Sparks stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 3% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Sparks against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Georgia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Georgia-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Sparks near the bottom of Georgia's cities

Among the 638 Georgia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Sparks ranks #428 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sparks only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#482 of 610
21st percentile in Georgia
Median Gross Rent
#428 of 638
0th percentile in Georgia
Median Home Value
#512 of 577
11th percentile in Georgia
Poverty Rate
#218 of 637
65th percentile in Georgia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#469 of 638
26th percentile in Georgia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Georgia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

7thIncome percentile

7th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sparks's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$79,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 97% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sparks $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Sparks, GA Sparks, GA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sparks, GA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Sparks, GA median $39,141/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Sparks, GA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Sparks, GA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 10.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,225
Median Income
$39,141
Median Home Value
$79,300
Median Age
32.4
Poverty Rate
17.6%
Labor force participation
46.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
10.8%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,020 residents2,040 residents2,060 residents2,080 residents2,100 residents2,120 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,065 residents 2,098 residents ▲ +1.6%
Sparks's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 2
2021 2
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.3%
Carpool
9.4%
Public Transit
0.7%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.9%
Other
1.7%

Based on 700 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Georgia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$125
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Georgia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Georgia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sparks sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
34.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Georgia

Trion
2,215 people
Raoul
2,211 people
Homerville
2,243 people
Winterville
2,245 people
Pendergrass
2,261 people
Gordon
2,186 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sparks's 2,225 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Newton, TX
2,225 people
Lewiston, UT
2,225 people
Reinholds, PA
2,226 people
Glade Spring, VA
2,224 people
Southern Gateway, VA
2,224 people
Melbourne, AR
2,227 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sparks's $39,141 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Zeigler, IL
$39,148 median income
Munford, AL
$39,125 median income
North Anson, ME
$39,125 median income
Vanceboro, NC
$39,125 median income
East Side, PA
$39,125 median income
Robstown, TX
$39,124 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sparks, GA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Sparks, GA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 34.6% 60.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.6% White 34.6% Black or African American 60.7% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 4.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Sparks compares to nearby Georgia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Sparks (this city) 2,225 $39,141
Trion 2,215 $42,969
Raoul 2,211 $41,328
Homerville 2,243 $35,844
Census ACS 5-year FIPS GA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sparks, GA?

What is the population of Sparks, GA? +

Sparks, GA counts 2,225 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sparks, GA? +

In Sparks, the typical household earns $39,141 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sparks? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sparks; the closest available measure is the Georgia state average, a cost of living index of 96.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Georgia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Sparks, GA? +

Homes in Sparks carry a median value of $79,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.