Is Sparks, NV a Good Place to Live?
Sparks is a mid-sized city of 108,025 in Nevada, with a median household income of $82,938 and a 6.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.
Strengths: Sparks stands out for short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sparks is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sparks 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: 103.2Sparks's overall cost of living index is 103.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sparks costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Sparks, NV | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $423,500 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $82,938 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageSparks's violent crime rate is 394.4 per 100,000 residents — 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sparks is served primarily by Washoe County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Sparks, NV | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Washoe County | — |
| Elementary Schools | 73 | — |
| Middle Schools | 18 | — |
| High Schools | 18 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 19.0:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 85.8% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Sparks sees average highs of 48.2°F in January and 92.1°F in July, with 8.4 inches of annual precipitation and 6.8 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 48.2°F |
| Average High — July | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" |
Demographics
| Metric | Sparks, NV | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 108,025 | — |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 23.3 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 64.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 2.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 22.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 5.2% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 15.5% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Sparks
Sparks, NV is covered by 3 ZIP codes: