Population 194 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Sparkling Springs
Household size in Sparkling Springs
| Period | Sparkling Springs | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.97 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.56 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Sparkling Springs are large by national standards, averaging 2.97 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has climbed from 2.41 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Sparkling Springs
| Period | Sparkling Springs | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.6 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.2 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.7 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Sparkling Springs is 37.9 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Sparkling Springs
| Period | Sparkling Springs | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Sparkling Springs than nationally: 13.2%, against 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Sparkling Springs
Renters in Sparkling Springs
| Period | Sparkling Springs | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −12.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.0% of households in Sparkling Springs rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over a third of owners (34.8%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Sparkling Springs
| Period | Sparkling Springs | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.3% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +9.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Sparkling Springs: 12.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Sparkling Springs
| Period | Sparkling Springs | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Sparkling Springs is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. That is in line with the rest of Virginia.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Sparkling Springs
| Period | Sparkling Springs | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $636 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $715 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $941 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $970 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$334 | +$600 | +$606 |
The median renter in Sparkling Springs pays $970 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 17.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Sparkling Springs
Bachelor's degrees in Sparkling Springs
| Period | Sparkling Springs | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.1% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.5% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in Sparkling Springs (30.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Sparkling Springs
| Period | Sparkling Springs | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.5% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.1% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.7% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.1% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.6 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Sparkling Springs is close to the national rate: 90.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Sparkling Springs
| Period | Sparkling Springs | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.2% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Sparkling Springs is close to the national rate: 6.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Virginia overall (4.3%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Sparkling Springs compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkling Springs | 2.97 | 37.9 | 13.2% | 15.0% | 12.2% | 1986 | $970 | 30.5% | 90.1% | 6.0% |
| Linville | 2.99 | 41.6 | 8.2% | 17.8% | 10.7% | 1985 | $1,170 | 33.3% | 88.3% | 2.4% |
| Broadway | 2.51 | 40.2 | 13.0% | 31.1% | 7.9% | 1987 | $1,070 | 25.2% | 87.2% | 2.7% |
| Singers Glen | 3.04 | 41.8 | 3.0% | 18.7% | 14.9% | 1980 | $1,071 | 30.7% | 82.9% | 0.2% |
| Timberville | 2.95 | 38.5 | 12.5% | 25.4% | 10.2% | 1980 | $1,066 | 16.1% | 82.9% | 7.4% |
| Tenth Legion | 2.64 | 48.1 | 3.2% | 26.4% | 8.6% | 1982 | $919 | 18.6% | 88.2% | 2.1% |
| Genoa | 2.72 | 40.8 | 8.8% | 9.8% | 19.7% | 1977 | $1,016 | 20.0% | 84.4% | 0.6% |
| Fulks Run | 2.61 | 39.9 | 11.9% | 18.3% | 20.1% | 1976 | $1,001 | 14.5% | 81.0% | 6.1% |
| Harrisonburg | 2.67 | 32.9 | 11.4% | 53.2% | 11.0% | 1985 | $1,225 | 39.8% | 86.6% | 5.9% |
| Palos | 2.77 | 39.0 | 7.8% | 24.6% | 17.8% | 1974 | $908 | 17.1% | 76.2% | 6.4% |
| Keezletown | 2.95 | 35.5 | 16.0% | 22.7% | 17.6% | 1980 | $1,206 | 18.0% | 87.4% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Ranchito, NM · Reece, KS · Redmon, IL · Red River, OH · Reaville, NJ · Reagantown, PA · Raynham, NC · Raymondville, NY · Rathbun, IA · Reeds Gap, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Sparkling Springs. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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