Sparta Michigan Welcome Sign, 2006
Sparta’s story
180 years in pictures
Census counts: 507 in 1880, 4,244 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 3 maps from 1918 on.
- 1846Sparta is settled
SpartaMI
Photo: Lonepointe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
4,255
2025 Census estimate · +1.8% since 2020
Typical home
$337K
+4.6% in a year
Household income
$61K
median
Median age
37.1
years
Jobs based here
2,564
Balanced
TownGrade
B+
#215 of 697 in MI
Is Sparta a good place to live?
Sparta gives you more for your money than most places: a typical home costs about $337K, 4.1 years of the Grand Rapids metro’s $83K median household income. It grades B+ overall, ranked 215th of 697 in Michigan. On the plus side, natural-hazard risk is low. Sparta’s trail density is 1.5 miles per square mile, where Michigan’s towns sit at 0.3 and U.S. towns at 0.4. The biggest park or preserve is Sparta Nature Trail, at 97 acres.
What makes Sparta stand out
Where Sparta beats most towns.
How Sparta grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Sparta is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →SchoolsBeat 67% of Michigan districts on tests and graduationB+Open →Cost of livingB+Open →SafetyBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.7 of 20; 9.1% of households have no car; 2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Jobs & income$61K median household income; 2,564 jobs based hereC+Open →HealthSpectrum Health 13.1 miles awayBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors4 miles of trails; 2% conserved landA−Open →History2 notable people born hereB+Open →Civic life1.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Sparta: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Sparta, and how to reach them.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSparta water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Sparta’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSparta Township ClerkSparta Township; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4934549345 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Sparta.
Sparta is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has seen reported crime fall by about half.
OutdoorsA−
Conserved land covers 1.7% of Sparta
In the comparison, Sparta comes against 4.4% in Michigan’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. 3.8 miles of trail in 9 parks and preserves.
#80for trails in MI
1.7%
conserved · 28 of 1,628 acres
3.8 mi
of trails · 1.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SARA Sports Park | 1.8 mi | 84 |
| 2. Sparta Nature Trail | 0.7 mi | 97 |
| 3. Rogers Park | 0.4 mi | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Sparta faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 84% of U.S. communities. Since 1994, 6 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Sparta.
16risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
6
paid flood claims since 1994
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade B+
Sparta’s grade for cost of living is a B+
Typical home values rose 4.6% in the year to September 2026.
$337KZillow home value
| Sparta | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 77% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $983 a month | $1,047 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Sparta$337K
Michigan$264K
Market temperature
14
days on market
103.7%
sale-to-list price
+4.6%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Sparta has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Sparta has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 16° and about 48 inches of snow falls in a winter.
48″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–33°
Spring35–57°
Summer57–81°
Fall40–60°
Sep 29
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
SafetyB
Sparta is safer than 63% of U.S. towns, by crime per resident
Reported crimes fell from 56 to 25 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings. Violent crime is rare: 5 reported in 2025, 1.2 per 1,000 residents.
Sparta’s property crime rate is 4.6 per 1,000 residents.
63%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade
| Sparta | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.6 per 1,000 residents | 8 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.2 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Sparta1.2
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Sparta4.6
Michigan13
U.S.15.5
63rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
64th
percentile among MI towns
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
20
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Sparta has 1.4 jobs for every working resident, and 2,390 people commute in
Most working residents leave Sparta for work: only 9% work in town. 17% of Sparta workers work from home. The top destinations are Grand Rapids (20%), Sparta Township (12%) and Walker (8%).
9%work in town
| Sparta | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 17% | 10% | 11% |
| Median household income | $61,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 9.3% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Sparta9%
Grand Rapids20%
Sparta Township12%
Walker8%
Wyoming6%
14 mi
median commute distance
2,564
jobs based in Sparta
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 60% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Who lives here
More young adults than Michigan overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 29% of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 34% of residents (38% statewide). The median age in Sparta is 37.1 years. 23% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across Michigan.
37.1median age · MI 40.2
| Sparta | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 23% | 26% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 20% | 21% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 18% | 19% | 18% |
SpartaMichiganUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school35%
Some college22%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate4%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.1 points. Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women.
| Sparta | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.3% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.9% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 18.7% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.2% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.2% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.2% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.6% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.9% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.5% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 34.5% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.7% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 4.3% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,300, single groups can be off by several points
HealthB
Sparta ranks healthier than 56% of the country’s towns
Against the 9,121 U.S. towns with household incomes like Sparta’s, it is healthier than 81%, so its B isn’t only a matter of income.
Sparta beats the Michigan average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 30% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Sparta.
56%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Sparta | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 27% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 36% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
2 better28 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Sparta | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with high cholesterol | 31.3% | 35.4% |
| Fewer adults with high blood pressure | 33% | 36.7% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 12.8% | 10.2% |
Spectrum Health
13.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
58th
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 20 attractions →Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and 14 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Sparta. Close and well known come first.
13 mi MuseumGerald R. Ford Presidential Museum32 mi Theme parkMichigan's Adventure
24 mi Park & preserveNorth Country Trail
14 mi MuseumFrederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
38 mi MuseumJim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia14 mi TheatreAcrisure AmphitheaterSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum: Staff of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Public domain · North Country Trail: Huron-Manistee National Forests, Public domain · Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: User Jeffness on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia: Jim Crow Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sparta
20pages on Sparta
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 67% of MI districtsSafetyB1.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than MI on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$337K typical home · up 4.6% in a yearWork & commuteC+$61K median household income · 2,564 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Sparta
Kuyper CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Grand Rapids11.1 mi$27,660 tuitionGrand Rapids Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Grand Rapids13.3 mi$4,179 in-state tuitionCornerstone UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Grand Rapids13.5 mi$23,000 tuition
About 6 of every 100 Sparta residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Michigan.
About Sparta
Village in Michigan, United States
Sparta is a village in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,244 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Sparta Township. Sparta is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is located about 10 miles (16 km) north of the city of Grand Rapids.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1846
- Area
- 2.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 797 ft
- ZIP code
- 49345
Questions about Sparta
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sparta, MI a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Sparta grades B+ overall, better than 73% of U.S. towns and #215 of 697 in Michigan. It grades B for health, B for safety and B+ for schools.
Is Sparta, MI expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
What is Sparta, MI known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Avery E. Field and Virginia Walcott Beauchamp.