Median Income
$22,102
household / year
Median Home Value
$53,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$571
gross / month
Cost of Living
85
national avg = 100

Is Sparta, GA a Good Place to Live?

Sparta is a small town of 1,944 in Georgia, with a median household income of $22,102 and a 11.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

Strengths: Sparta stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sparta is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sparta city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 85.3

Sparta's overall cost of living index is 85.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sparta costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.

Metric Sparta, GA National Avg
Median Home Value $53,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $571 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 41.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $22,102 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sparta's violent crime rate is 177.4 per 100,000 residents — 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
177.4 /100k
Property Crime
555.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Sparta is served primarily by Hancock County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Sparta, GA National Avg
School District Hancock County —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 7.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 11.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 82.9% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sparta sees average highs of 55.0°F in January and 91.2°F in July, with 46.1 inches of annual precipitation and 0.6 inches of snow per year.

MetricSparta, GA
Average High — January55.0°F
Average High — July91.2°F
Annual Precipitation46.1"
Annual Snowfall0.6"

Demographics

MetricSparta, GANational Avg
Population1,944—
Median Age26.938.9
Unemployment Rate11.6%3.7%
Avg Commute Time33.5 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)6.6%59.3%
Black or African American88.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.0%18.9%
Asian3.3%6.3%
Under 1836.7%22.2%
65 and over16.6%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Sparta

Sparta, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Sparta vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Sparta's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sparta roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $53,500 and median rent is $571/month.
Sparta's violent crime rate is 177.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 555.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sparta are operated by Hancock County. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.2:1. 11.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sparta, GA has a population of 1,944, a median household income of $22,102, and an unemployment rate of 11.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Sparta averages 55.0°F in January and 91.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.1 inches with about 0.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sparta, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 31087.
The population of Sparta, Georgia is 1,944 with a median age of 26.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sparta: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $53,500, median household income $22,102, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sparta side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.