Village · Michigan
Sparta, Michigan
Sparta, village, in Kent County, Michigan. Sparta had 4,255 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,244 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,271 (±28). GEOID 2675420.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,255
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,244 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,271 ±28
Median household income
$60,728
±$3,710 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$215,400
±$15,926 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$983
±$60 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Sparta and what county is it in?
Sparta is a village in Kent County, Michigan. It covers 2.5 square miles of land, 1,667 residents per square mile in 2020.
Sparta is in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Sparta lies entirely within Sparta Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Sparta, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,255 people lived in Sparta on July 1, 2025, up 1.8% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 4,244 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,271 (±28).
| Measure | Sparta | Kent County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,271 ±28 | 663,150 | −83 |
| Households | 1,828 ±165 | 256,648 | +200 |
| Average household size | 2.32 ±0.20 | 2.54 | −0.35 |
| Housing units | 1,863 ±172 | 269,136 | no clear change |
Sparta's population since 2000
From 4,159 in 2000 to 4,255 in 2025: up 2.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Sparta as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Sparta?
The median resident of Sparta is 37.1 years old; 20.3% are under 18 and 17.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.9%. 2.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Sparta | Kent County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 ±5.0 | 35.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.3% ±3.2 pts | 23.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.5% ±3.7 pts | 14.9% | – |
| Male | 46.8% ±4.0 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.4% ±2.3 pts | 11.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.1% ±3.8 pts | 70.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±1.0 pts | 3.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±3.3 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.4% ±1.4 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.4% ±1.6 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.8% ±2.2 pts | 4.9% | – |
| With a disability | 21.1% ±5.1 pts | 11.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.3% ±4.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.5% ±3.0 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.3% ±5.7 pts | 40.8% | +7.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.3% ±2.6 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.8% ±7.9 pts | 87.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 1.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Sparta earn?
Half of Sparta's 1,828 households earn less than $60,728 a year (±$3,710), against $82,631 in Kent County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $54,730 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sparta | Kent County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,728 ±$3,710 | $82,631 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $73,753 ±$7,948 | $109,612 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,077 ±$4,048 | $42,992 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.3% ±4.7 pts | 10.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.1% ±10.7 pts | 13.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.1% ±5.8 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.6% ±3.7 pts | 95.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.0% ±4.0 pts | 92.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Sparta?
Owners occupy 76.5% of Sparta's occupied homes and renters 23.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $215,400 by its owner (±$15,926). The median renter pays $983 a month including utilities, and 43.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Sparta | Kent County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $215,400 ±$15,926 | $289,900 | +$68,086 |
| Median gross rent | $983 ±$60 | $1,243 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.7% ±16.2 pts | 39.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,408 ±$82 | $1,603 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.5% ±6.1 pts | 70.3% | +15.9 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 23.5% ±6.1 pts | 29.7% | – |
| Housing units | 1,863 ±172 | 269,136 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.5% ±11.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.0% ±6.8 pts | 64.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.5% ±3.0 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.3% ±2.5 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 26.4% ±7.2 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.1% ±4.1 pts | 6.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Sparta building?
Builders took permits for 12 new housing units in Sparta in 2025 (7 in single-family houses), 2.8 per 1,000 residents against 2.3 across Michigan.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Sparta work and get to work?
78.3% of Sparta's workers drive alone and 16.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.0 minutes.
| Measure | Sparta | Kent County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.9% ±6.2 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% ±4.7 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 78.3% ±6.2 pts | 73.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 2.5% ±3.1 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Walked | 2.0% ±2.2 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 16.6% ±5.5 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.0 min ±2.7 | 21.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Sparta?
1 census tract lies mostly in Sparta, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 104.02Kent County | 4,309 | $61,013 |
| Tract 104.01Kent County | 5,185 | $100,556 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Sparta) · Census block assignment files
How does Sparta compare with other places in Michigan?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Sparta is the 5,352nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 169th-most populous of 533 in Michigan.
Sparta ranks 996th of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 169th | 533 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 407th | 1,281 |
| Residents per square mile | 187th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 996th | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 938th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 604th | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 580th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 696th | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 639th | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,128th | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 978th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 170th | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 602nd | 1,356 |
Sparta's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Sparta with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Sparta?
20 of the 57 figures for Sparta on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Sparta are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Sparta.