Population 114,417 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Sparks
Household size in Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.69 | 2.73 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.66 | 2.80 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.68 | 2.73 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Sparks average 2.68 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Household size has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national average fell.
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 Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.5 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.2 | 39.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.2 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Sparks is 38.2 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 37.2 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the east.
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 Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 12.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 12.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Sparks than nationally: 13.1%, against 11.6%. Nevada as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Sparks
Renters in Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8% | 39.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 41.0% | 44.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.1% | 43.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.2% | 40.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +0.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Sparks than nationally: 39.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Just over three in ten owners (31.4%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share has edged up 1.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 14.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 14.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 11.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 9.0% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −5.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Sparks is close to the national rate: 8.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1990 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1991 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1992 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1995 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Sparks is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1992, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southwest has the oldest housing.
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 Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,233 | $1,199 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,200 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,385 | $1,276 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,961 | $1,787 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$728 | +$587 | +$606 |
Rent in Sparks runs $1,961 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $728 a month from 2006–10, a 59% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.2% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the southwest.
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 Sparks
Bachelor's degrees in Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.8% | 22.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 22.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.3% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.0% | 27.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +5.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Sparks than nationally: 28.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the west.
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 Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.0% | 84.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.7% | 84.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.8% | 86.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.0% | 87.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Sparks have finished high school as nationally: 88.0%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 1.0 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 9.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 11.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 6.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Sparks is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in Nevada as a whole (6.9%). Unemployment has fallen 3.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
Sparks 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparks | 2.68 | 38.2 | 13.1% | 39.2% | 8.7% | 1992 | $1,961 | 28.0% | 88.0% | 4.9% |
| Sun Valley | 3.25 | 35.4 | 14.1% | 24.8% | 4.3% | 1987 | $1,266 | 11.3% | 70.0% | 7.0% |
| Reno | 2.45 | 39.9 | 10.9% | 44.6% | 8.2% | 1990 | $1,943 | 37.4% | 89.7% | 5.0% |
| Spanish Springs | 2.70 | 46.2 | 6.8% | 8.7% | 6.5% | 2001 | $2,079 | 29.5% | 96.4% | 2.3% |
| Lemmon Valley | 2.53 | 49.0 | 9.5% | 7.7% | 9.3% | 1988 | $2,171 | 23.2% | 88.7% | 9.3% |
| Copperfield | 2.57 | 55.0 | 1.8% | 0.9% | 4.9% | 1982 | $2,187 | 24.4% | 84.6% | 4.6% |
| Verdi | 2.26 | 49.5 | 1.9% | 17.4% | 7.2% | 2010 | $2,415 | 46.0% | 96.6% | 3.1% |
| Cold Springs | 3.22 | 39.7 | 1.9% | 8.7% | 2.0% | 2007 | $1,900 | 26.8% | 95.7% | 3.0% |
| Verdi | 1.62 | 63.6 | 0.4% | 22.2% | 40.3% | 1979 | $1,514 | 35.2% | 99.2% | 0.0% |
| Virginia City | 1.94 | 55.2 | 6.1% | 1.3% | 10.2% | 1970 | $1,182 | 39.1% | 90.3% | 2.9% |
| Floriston | 2.12 | 60.8 | 7.3% | 11.9% | 70.5% | 1975 | $1,225 | 28.1% | 94.9% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pflugerville, TX · Petaluma, CA · Philadelphia, PA · Perris, CA · Pharr, TX · Metairie, LA · Mooresville, NC · Maryville, TN · Monroe, LA · Milwaukee, WI
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 Sparks. 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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