Population 434 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sparta
Household size in Sparta
| Period | Sparta | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.62 | 2.67 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.57 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.09 | −0.03 |
Households in Sparta run a little small, averaging 2.54 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Mississippi as a whole looks much the same.
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 Sparta
| Period | Sparta | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3 | 36.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.3 | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.5 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.3 | 39.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Sparta is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.3, against 40.1 nationally. The picture is much the same across Mississippi.
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 Sparta
| Period | Sparta | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.2% | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 14.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 14.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Sparta: 8.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 8.7 points since 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Sparta
Renters in Sparta
| Period | Sparta | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 29.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.8% | 31.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −8.2 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts |
Sparta is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 7.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 62.0% have no mortgage at all, well above 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 Sparta
| Period | Sparta | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.4% | 16.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.5% | 14.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.5% of the housing in Sparta, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. The picture is much the same across Mississippi.
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 Sparta
| Period | Sparta | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1984 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +5 | +6 |
Sparta has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The picture is much the same across Mississippi.
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 Sparta
| Period | Sparta | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $589 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $644 | $758 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $902 | $819 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $985 | $1,018 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$396 | +$315 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Sparta costs $985 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Mississippi as a whole looks much the same. The typical renter here spends 21.0% 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 Sparta
Bachelor's degrees in Sparta
| Period | Sparta | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 20.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 21.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 22.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.6% | 25.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +5.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Sparta: 19.6% 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 Sparta
| Period | Sparta | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.9% | 80.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 76.5% | 82.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 70.6% | 84.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.5% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.6 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Sparta never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.5% 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 Sparta
| Period | Sparta | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 9.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.5% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −12.4 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Sparta has been low: just 0.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Sparta 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta | 2.54 | 38.3 | 8.3% | 7.1% | 14.5% | 1989 | $985 | 19.6% | 83.5% | 0.5% |
| Woodland | 2.58 | 41.0 | 10.1% | 20.9% | 18.6% | 1991 | $865 | 10.0% | 75.8% | 3.8% |
| Sonora | 2.84 | 39.8 | 9.0% | 12.9% | 13.3% | 1987 | $831 | 20.5% | 83.3% | 1.5% |
| Mantee | 2.49 | 40.0 | 6.3% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 1989 | $773 | 21.0% | 85.9% | 1.1% |
| Houston | 2.50 | 36.4 | 15.5% | 30.4% | 13.6% | 1981 | $824 | 16.5% | 83.7% | 2.9% |
| Pheba | 2.30 | 42.5 | 10.0% | 19.0% | 14.1% | 1985 | $850 | 27.3% | 85.5% | 1.5% |
| Pyland | 2.78 | 37.5 | 11.4% | 18.5% | 13.3% | 1986 | $804 | 20.1% | 83.6% | 2.7% |
| Atlanta | 2.36 | 41.3 | 14.3% | 26.2% | 22.5% | 1990 | $713 | 12.8% | 79.0% | 9.4% |
| Cedarbluff | 2.26 | 42.8 | 7.0% | 17.8% | 11.1% | 1986 | $944 | 19.1% | 84.4% | 1.0% |
| Prairie | 2.90 | 39.8 | 17.0% | 6.9% | 13.7% | 2001 | $978 | 9.7% | 84.1% | 1.3% |
| Griffith | 2.20 | 45.8 | 10.4% | 12.6% | 11.2% | 1989 | $1,044 | 15.8% | 81.6% | 0.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rockville, TN · Methow, WA · Mexico, OH · Roaches, IL · Rochelle, TX · Rochester, KY · Rock Bluff, FL · Rock, KS · Rockport, WA · Marys Home, MO
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 Sparta. 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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