Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Spring Valley leads 18 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Spring Valley
Nevada
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,341
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $13,597 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
Cons
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
76% less violent crime than Sparks
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $48k less ($375,200 vs $423,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $13,597/yr
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 6.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Median Income
$13,597
$82,938 vs $69,341/yr
Sparks
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spring Valley
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
76% lower
94.1 vs 394.4 per 100k
Spring Valley
Median Home Value
$48k less
$375,200 vs $423,500
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High | $375,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High | $1,523⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $69,341 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 220,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Spring Valley is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spring Valley leads 18 of 23 categories. Sparks wins 5 and Spring Valley wins 18. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Sparks to Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $375,200 median home), income ($82,938 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Spring Valley, NV are about 342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.