City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Sparta, MO

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.

2,378
Residents
$61,630
Median income
$167,400
Median home
$1,095
Median rent (state)

Sparta - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Sparta lands in the 38th percentile for household income and the 78th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

38th
percentile, household income
33rd
percentile, home value
28th
percentile, median rent
78th
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, MO

Sparta is a small town in Missouri, home to 2,378 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $61,630 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.0%. Typical homes in Sparta are valued around $167,400, and the median resident age is 35.0 years. 11.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 61.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Sparta reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 659.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: the state registers 90.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,095 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Missouri run around $219, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 66.5 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

2,378 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$61,630 /yr

Poverty 7.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Sparta compare to other US cities?

Sparta measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 38% higher than other cities
Home value 33% pricier than other cities
Median rent 28% pricier than other cities
Safety 78% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Missouri, Sparta ranks #38 of 234 Missouri cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Missouri-relative analysis

Median Home Value sits close to the middle of Missouri's city distribution

Among the 833 Missouri cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Sparta ranks #253 - the 70th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sparta only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#291 of 842
65th percentile in Missouri
Median Gross Rent
#282 of 875
65th percentile in Missouri
Median Home Value
#253 of 833
70th percentile in Missouri
Poverty Rate
#539 of 875
38th percentile in Missouri
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#589 of 875
32nd percentile in Missouri

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 Missouri only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

38thIncome percentile
78thSafety percentile

38th percentile nationally for median household income · 78th 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 62 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+)

$167,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 67% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. 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, MO Sparta, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sparta, MO-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, MO median $61,630/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, MO'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, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.0%

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

Population
2,378
Median Income
$61,630
Median Home Value
$167,400
Median Age
35.0
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Labor force participation
61.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
659.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
101.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
558.4
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 →
1,850 residents1,900 residents1,950 residents2,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,869 residents 1,953 residents ▲ +4.5%
Sparta's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.5%
Carpool
7.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.3%
Work from Home
4.3%
Other
0.8%

Based on 1,109 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$219
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Missouri 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 Missouri 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
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,095/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
66.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Lake Lotawana
2,378 people
Marlborough
2,366 people
Houston
2,407 people
Granby
2,345 people
Anderson
2,415 people
Plattsburg
2,437 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sparta's 2,378 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Holyoke, CO
2,378 people
Pine Beach, NJ
2,378 people
Carlton, OR
2,378 people
Bridgeport, AL
2,377 people
Valle Vista, AZ
2,376 people
Madelia, MN
2,380 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sparta's $61,630 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wapakoneta, OH
$61,628 median income
Ravine, PA
$61,633 median income
Morrow, AR
$61,635 median income
Holstein, IA
$61,625 median income
Bradley, ME
$61,625 median income
Carbon Hill, OH
$61,625 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sparta, MO 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, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.7% White 97.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 1.9% 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 Missouri 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) 2,378 $61,630
Lake Lotawana 2,378 $162,188
Marlborough 2,366 $47,011
Houston 2,407 $41,250
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sparta, MO?

What is the population of Sparta, MO? +

2,378 people live in Sparta, MO according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Sparta is $61,630 per year, 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 Missouri state average, a cost of living index of 90.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Missouri vary by metro area.

Is Sparta, MO safe? +

Sparta has a total crime rate of 659.9 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, MO? +

Sparta's median home value sits at $167,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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