Downtown-Sparta-tn1 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 4.0Sparta-tennessee-rockhouse2 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Oldham-Theater-Sparta-tn1 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 4.0Lester-flatt-sparta-tn-memorial2 · Brian Stansberry (photograph) / CC BY 3.0
Sparta is a small town of 4,950 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $42,670
and a 10.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sparta stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include 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: 90.4
Sparta's overall cost of living index is 90.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sparta costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sparta, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$183,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$759
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,670
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Sparta's violent crime rate is 122.8 per 100,000 residents
— 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
122.8 /100k
Property Crime
2250.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sparta is served primarily by White County.
Metric
Sparta, TN
National Avg
School District
White County
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sparta sees average highs of 47.3°F in January
and 87.9°F in July,
with 58.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Sparta's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sparta roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $183,100 and median rent is $759/month.
Sparta's violent crime rate is 122.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2250.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sparta are operated by White County.
The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
15.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sparta, TN has a population of 4,950, a median household income of $42,670, and an unemployment rate of 10.9%.
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 47.3°F in January and 87.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.7 inches
with about 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sparta, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 38583.
The population of Sparta, Tennessee is 4,950 with a median age of 38.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sparta: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $183,100, median household income $42,670, crime index 62 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. 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.
