Sparta city, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Sparta city, Tennessee Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

As of 2026, Sparta city, Tennessee has a total population of 4,915, the 116th largest city in Tennessee, with a median household income of $43,989, which is 34% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.4%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 34% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.

Sparta city Quick Facts

Population 4,915

Median Household Income $43,989

Median Home Value $200,600

Poverty Rate 14.4%

Unemployment Rate 6.8%

Median Age 40.7 years

Homeownership Rate 65.8%

Affordability Ratio 4.6x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.2%

High School Graduation Rate 88.1%

Diversity Index 20/100

Population 4,915 116th of 504

Median Income $43,989 bottom 30%

Poverty Rate 14.4% 16% higher national

Median Home Value $200,600 above average

How Sparta city Compares

Median Household Income

Sparta city

$43,989

$67,097

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Sparta city

$200,600

$256,800

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 30.4%

$25K-$50K 24.5%

$50K-$100K 31.9%

$100K+ 13.2%

Employment

6.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7% | National: 5.2%

54.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 65.8%

Renter 34.2%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.6x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.5%

18-34

22.4%

35-54

23.0%

55-74

29.1%

75+

5.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Sparta city Rankings in Tennessee

#116 Population of 504

#358 Median Income of 504

#274 Education of 504

#183 Home Value of 504

Explore Tennessee Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Cities Similar to Sparta city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Whiteville town	4,689	$43,438	$87,000	4.9%	28.1%
Madisonville city	5,184	$45,274	$202,600	13.8%	14.6%
Mount Pleasant city	4,803	$49,897	$217,600	13.4%	22.0%
Rogersville town	4,638	$46,536	$183,600	20.2%	18.6%
Bolivar city	5,171	$38,575	$136,000	11.9%	24.6%

Population Overview

Sparta city is a small community located in Tennessee. The total population is 4,915. It ranks as the 116th most populous out of 504 cities and towns in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sparta city is 40.7 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sparta city is $43,989. This is 34% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 44% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.4%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.8%. This is 44% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $200,600. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 65.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sparta city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.5%. The Black or African American population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 15.7%.

Education

15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sparta city, Tennessee is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 504 Census-designated places in Tennessee. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Sparta city, Tennessee?

Sparta city, Tennessee has a population of 4,915 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Sparta city, TN?

The median household income in Sparta city is $43,989, which is 44% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Sparta city, TN?

The poverty rate in Sparta city is 14.4%. This means approximately 664 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Sparta city, Tennessee?

Sparta city's population is 88.9% White, 5.5% Black, 3.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Sparta city, TN?

The median home value in Sparta city is $200,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x.

How educated is Sparta city, Tennessee?

15.2% of adults (25+) in Sparta city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.