Sparta, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

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%.

Sparta Quick Facts

Population 4,93990% MOE ±15

Median Household Income $50,08090% MOE ±$9,260

Median Home Value $217,00090% MOE ±$19,771

Poverty Rate 14.3%90% MOE ±6.0 pts

Unemployment Rate 7.8%90% MOE ±4.1 pts

Median Age 46.8 years90% MOE ±4.9 years

Homeownership Rate 67.5%90% MOE ±10.4 pts

Affordability Ratio 4.3x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.1%90% MOE ±5.4 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 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 non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	4,937	4,939	No clear change (+0.0%)
Median household income	$41,536	$50,080	No clear change (+20.6%)
Median home value¹	$115,563	$217,000	+87.8%
Median gross rent	$788	$731	No clear change (-7.2%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

How Sparta Compares

Median Household Income

Sparta

$50,080

$69,595

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Sparta

$217,000

$286,700

National

$332,700

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

Age Distribution

Under 18

15.6%

18-34

23.1%

35-54

23.1%

55-74

29.7%

75+

8.5%

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: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

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

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home 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.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Mount Pleasant	4,837	$50,108	$244,400	10.1%	22.8%
Rogersville	4,647	$47,500	$192,800	20.5%	15.7%
Selmer	4,488	$51,591	$155,900	15.2%	23.6%
Huntingdon	4,441	$51,969	$160,500	27.1%	20.1%
Rockwood	5,566	$47,791	$128,700	8.8%	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.

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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.