Population 682 · 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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.02 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.00 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
The average household in Sparks has 2.54 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 2.64 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 Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.0 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.0 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.4 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.4 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Sparks skews older: half of its residents are older than 53.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Sparks: 2.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 9.0% of households in Sparks rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 39.8% have no mortgage at all, about the same as 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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.0% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −16.9 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Sparks: 6.1% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1992 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1995 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +8 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Sparks is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1995, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The picture is much the same across Texas.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $854 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $639 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $911 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,036 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$182 | +$639 | +$606 |
The median renter in Sparks pays $1,036 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 49.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.5% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.8% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.3% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Sparks: 20.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well 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 Sparks
| Period | Sparks | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.5% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.0% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.1% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 75.3% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | −11.2 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a quarter of adults in Sparks never finished high school, well above the national share: only 75.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% 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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.4% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Sparks has been strong: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
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 | 2.54 | 53.4 | 2.6% | 9.0% | 6.1% | 1995 | $1,036 | 20.3% | 75.3% | 2.3% |
| Holland | 2.68 | 41.6 | 15.0% | 26.4% | 9.7% | 1988 | $693 | 29.9% | 92.8% | 2.7% |
| Little River | 2.93 | 38.5 | 10.3% | 16.0% | 8.9% | 1994 | $1,459 | 28.0% | 84.3% | 1.6% |
| Vilas | 2.53 | 52.3 | 2.7% | 7.8% | 8.4% | 1996 | $889 | 19.8% | 82.0% | 1.5% |
| Rogers | 2.98 | 40.2 | 8.0% | 20.7% | 11.4% | 1983 | $777 | 14.1% | 89.8% | 2.0% |
| Oscar | 2.82 | 39.6 | 6.0% | 16.9% | 12.0% | 1993 | $1,252 | 23.4% | 91.3% | 0.4% |
| South Elm | 2.52 | 48.8 | 5.3% | 14.8% | 13.7% | 1989 | $704 | 18.7% | 85.7% | 2.4% |
| Schwertner | 2.63 | 43.9 | 7.5% | 24.3% | 8.0% | 2002 | $1,457 | 25.8% | 90.5% | 5.8% |
| Salado | 2.58 | 45.7 | 4.0% | 12.3% | 8.1% | 2005 | $1,270 | 43.0% | 94.9% | 1.9% |
| Buckholts | 2.58 | 46.8 | 5.8% | 16.8% | 13.9% | 1988 | $712 | 18.7% | 85.6% | 2.5% |
| Temple | 2.68 | 35.1 | 12.6% | 46.2% | 8.3% | 1992 | $1,411 | 30.2% | 87.7% | 6.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: New Kingstown, PA · Nobility, TX · Nixon, MS · Nineveh, NY · Nicut, OK · Nicktown, PA · Niantic, IL · New Site, MS · New Prospect, TN · New Market, IA
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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