City profile · Nevada · Census ACS 2023

Sparks, NV

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.

109,106
Residents
$86,979
Median income
$455,900
Median home
$1,870
Median rent (state)

Sparks - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Sparks places in the 68th percentile for household income and the 16th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

68th
percentile, household income
82nd
percentile, home value
79th
percentile, median rent
16th
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: Sparks, NV

109,106 people live in Sparks, Nevada - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Sparks households earn a median of $86,979 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.9%. Typical homes in Sparks are valued around $455,900, and the median resident age is 36.9 years. 26.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 64.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 805 residential building permits were authorized in Sparks (Construction Slowdown), down 40% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Sparks's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2978.2 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 53.5°F with 8.4 inches of precipitation per year and 6.8 inches of snowfall.

Nevada tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,870 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Nevada run around $190, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Sparks report an average commute of 20.9 minutes, with 73.0% driving alone and 9.5% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 25.2 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

109,106 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nevada

Median Household Income

$86,979 /yr

Poverty 5.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nevada average

How does Sparks compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 68% higher than other cities
Home value 82% pricier than other cities
Median rent 79% pricier than other cities
Safety 16% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Nevada alone, Sparks ranks #10 of 10 Nevada cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Nevada-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Sparks toward the top of Nevada's cities

Among the 111 Nevada cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Sparks ranks #1 - the 86th 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
#39 of 101
61st percentile in Nevada
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 111
86th percentile in Nevada
Median Home Value
#32 of 97
67th percentile in Nevada
Poverty Rate
#48 of 111
56th percentile in Nevada
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#38 of 111
66th percentile in Nevada

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

68thIncome percentile
16thSafety percentile

68th percentile nationally for median household income · 16th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Sparks's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Sparks'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 35 Avg. percentile National median
Sparks'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 Sparks's home value compares nationally

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

$455,900 18th percentile more affordable than 18% 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%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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, NV Sparks, NV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sparks, NV-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, NV median $86,979/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, NV'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, NV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.3%

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

Population
109,106
Median Income
$86,979
Median Home Value
$455,900
Median Age
36.9
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Labor force participation
64.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2978.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
394.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2583.8
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
53.5°F
Annual Precipitation
8.4"
Annual Snowfall
6.8"

Schools

Total Schools
35
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
108,000 residents109,000 residents110,000 residents111,000 residents112,000 residents113,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 108,884 residents 111,902 residents ▲ +2.8%
Sparks's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
805
housing units authorized
Single-Family
612
detached homes
Multifamily
193
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,338
2020 656
2021 676
2022 1,541
2023 516
2024 805

Permit volume decreased 40% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.9 minutes
Drive Alone
73.0%
Carpool
12.8%
Public Transit
2.0%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
9.5%
Other
1.4%

Based on 55,122 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$30
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$190
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Nevada 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 Nevada 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
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,870/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
25.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nevada

Carson
58,364 people
Whitney
46,268 people
Pahrump
45,811 people
Winchester
37,774 people
Paradise
186,178 people
Summerlin South
30,075 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sparks's 109,106 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

South Fulton, GA
109,157 people
Greeley, CO
109,421 people
Sugar Land, TX
109,735 people
Ponce zona urbana, PR
109,765 people
Santa Maria, CA
109,880 people
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
109,900 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sparks's $86,979 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

North Windham, ME
$86,972 median income
Rio Vista, CA
$86,970 median income
Hebron, IL
$86,964 median income
Shamrock Lakes, IN
$86,964 median income
Sunray, OK
$86,964 median income
Glenwood Springs, CO
$87,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sparks, NV 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, NV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 62.0% 10.4% 17.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 32.6% White 62.0% Black or African American 2.2% Asian 5.3% American Indian 1.2% Native Hawaiian 1.1% Some other race 10.4% Two or more races 17.8% 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 Nevada 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) 109,106 $86,979
Carson 58,364 $71,809
Whitney 46,268 $63,480
Pahrump 45,811 $58,560
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NV FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sparks, NV?

What is the population of Sparks, NV? +

Sparks, NV has a population of 109,106 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Sparks runs $86,979, 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 Nevada state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Nevada vary by metro area.

Is Sparks, NV safe? +

Sparks has a total crime rate of 2978.2 per 100,000 residents, which is above 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 Sparks, NV? +

The median home value in Sparks is $455,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Sparks? +

Climate normals put Sparks's yearly average temperature at 53.5°F, 8.4 inches of precipitation, and 6.8 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.