Sparta, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 272, Sparta's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Sparta is a small community located in Kentucky, within Owen County. The total population is 272. It ranks as the 436th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sparta is 37.0 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sparta is $51,375. This is 19% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.2%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 17.2%. This is 252% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $116,700. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Sparta is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sparta has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.1%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (8.1% vs 5.0%).

Education

20.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 78.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sparta, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.