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Sparta, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Sparta, Tennessee had a total population of 4,939, the 116th largest city in Tennessee, with a median household income of $50,080, which is 28% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Sparta Quick Facts

Population 4,939
Median Household Income $50,080
Median Home Value $217,000
Poverty Rate 14.3%
Unemployment Rate 7.8%
Median Age 46.8 years
Homeownership Rate 67.5%
Affordability Ratio 4.3x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.1%
High School Graduation Rate 90.4%
Diversity Index 22/100
Population 4,939 116th of 502
Median Income $50,080 below average
Poverty Rate 14.3% 15% higher than national
Median Home Value $217,000 average

How Sparta Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population4,9154,939+0.5%
Median household income$43,989$50,080+13.8%
Median home value$200,600$217,000+8.2%

How Sparta Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 25.3%
$25K-$50K 24.5%
$50K-$100K 36.7%
$100K+ 13.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.8%
$10K-$15K
9.2%
$15K-$20K
10.5%
$20K-$25K
1.8%
$25K-$30K
6.1%
$30K-$35K
1.8%
$35K-$40K
4.3%
$40K-$45K
7.6%
$45K-$50K
4.6%
$50K-$60K
13.2%
$60K-$75K
8.5%
$75K-$100K
15.0%
$100K-$125K
4.2%
$125K-$150K
4.5%
$150K-$200K
2.5%
$200K+
2.4%

Employment

7.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
51.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 67.5%
Renter 32.5%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $731/mo 17.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

22out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Sparta Rankings in Tennessee

#116 Population of 502
#308 Median Income of 453
#215 Education of 502
#189 Home Value of 464

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

Other Cities in White County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Doyle 532 $39,808 17.1% $164,300
Bon Air 205 $63,750 19.0% N/A

Cities Similar to Sparta

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

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Mount Pleasant4,837$50,108$244,40010.1%22.8%
Rogersville4,647$47,500$192,80020.5%15.7%
Selmer4,488$51,591$155,90015.2%23.6%
Huntingdon4,441$51,969$160,50027.1%20.1%
Rockwood5,566$47,791$128,7008.8%22.1%

Population Overview

Sparta is a small community located in Tennessee, within White County. The total population is 4,939. It ranks as the 116th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sparta is 46.8 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sparta is $50,080. This is 28% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.3%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.8%. This is 67% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $217,000. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 67.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

Sparta has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.7%. The Black or African American population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 15.4%.

Education

19.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sparta, Tennessee 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 Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

Free data download: Get all Tennessee city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Sparta, Tennessee?

Sparta, Tennessee has a population of 4,939 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Sparta, TN?

The median household income in Sparta is $50,080, which is 38% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Sparta, TN?

The poverty rate in Sparta is 14.3%. This means approximately 667 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Sparta, Tennessee?

Sparta's population is 88.3% White, 3.7% Black, 4.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Sparta, TN?

The median home value in Sparta is $217,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x.

How educated is Sparta, Tennessee?

19.1% of adults (25+) in Sparta hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.