City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Sparta, MI

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

4,260
Residents
$55,474
Median income
$190,100
Median home
$1,531
Median rent (state)

Sparta - the verdict

Nationally, Sparta sits in the 28th percentile for household income and the 66th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

28th
percentile, household income
40th
percentile, home value
61st
percentile, median rent
66th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Sparta, MI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 4,260 residents in Sparta, a small town within Michigan. Median household income here is $55,474 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.8%. Typical homes in Sparta are valued around $190,100, and the median resident age is 33.7 years. About 20.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 7 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 63% from five years earlier. Sparta reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 958.2 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: the state registers 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,531 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 92.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

4,260 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$55,474 /yr

Poverty 6.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Sparta compare to other US cities?

Where Sparta sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 28% higher than other cities
Home value 40% pricier than other cities
Median rent 61% pricier than other cities
Safety 66% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Michigan and the picture shifts: Sparta ranks #99 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Sparta's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Michigan, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

28thIncome percentile
66thSafety percentile

28th percentile nationally for median household income · 66th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Sparta's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Sparta's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 48 Avg. percentile National median
Sparta's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Sparta's home value compares nationally

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

$190,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 60% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Sparta $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 - Sparta, MI Sparta, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sparta, MI-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 Sparta, MI median $55,474/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%
Sparta, MI'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 Sparta, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.3%

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

Population
4,260
Median Income
$55,474
Median Home Value
$190,100
Median Age
33.7
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Labor force participation
60.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
958.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
187.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
771.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,150 residents4,200 residents4,250 residents4,300 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,183 residents 4,255 residents ▲ +1.7%
Sparta's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 19
2020 24
2021 11
2022 13
2023 10
2024 7

Permit volume decreased 63% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.3%
Carpool
3.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.0%
Work from Home
13.7%
Other
0.7%

Based on 2,023 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan 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 Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sparta sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,531/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Buchanan
4,259 people
Caro
4,284 people
Gaylord
4,307 people
Middleville
4,327 people
Algonac
4,152 people
Linden
4,150 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sparta's 4,260 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lonoke, AR
4,260 people
Bristow, OK
4,261 people
Laureldale, PA
4,259 people
Russell, KS
4,258 people
Ligonier, IN
4,263 people
Normandy, MO
4,263 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sparta's $55,474 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Southside, AR
$55,469 median income
Southgate, KY
$55,469 median income
Sarepta, LA
$55,469 median income
Dutton, MT
$55,469 median income
Spencer, NE
$55,469 median income
Corwith, IA
$55,481 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sparta, MI 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 Sparta, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.6% White 92.1% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 5.1% 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 Sparta compares to nearby Michigan cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Sparta (this city) 4,260 $55,474
Buchanan 4,259 $54,068
Caro 4,284 $41,940
Gaylord 4,307 $44,052
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sparta, MI?

What is the population of Sparta, MI? +

The population of Sparta, MI stands at 4,260 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sparta, MI? +

Sparta households earn a median of $55,474 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sparta? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sparta; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

Is Sparta, MI safe? +

Sparta has a total crime rate of 958.2 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Sparta, MI? +

A typical home in Sparta is worth $190,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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 Editorial

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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.