Photo: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Sparks as a whole is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns
Sparks differs from Nevada on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sparks. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sparks
Binge drinking is the habit Sparks doesn’t win on
18.7% of adults binge drink, vs 15.7% across Nevada, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Diabetes and high blood pressure are less common in Sparks
Sparks runs below Nevada on diabetes (9.8% vs 12%) and high blood pressure (28.6% vs 34%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Nevada figure falls outside Sparks’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Sparks’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sparks is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, #10 of 42 in Nevada. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 88% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 32%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Sparks’ median household income is $89,056; among the 10,062 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$111K), it’s healthier than 58%, about where its income would put it.
At 111,902 residents, Sparks is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Everyday habits, side by side with Nevada
Share of adults, with the Nevada figure marked.
65 miles of trails across 53 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Sparks adults…
Sparks runs below NV on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Sparks
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Sparks, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Sparks; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Sparks adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nevada.
How Sparks adults are doing
About the same as Nevada on each measure.
2 in 5 Sparks adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.6% of Sparks adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Nevada.
Sparks and the towns around it
Sparks’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparks | B | 28.6% | 9.8% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Spanish Springs | A− | 27.5% | 9.3% | 11.5% | CDC place |
| Reno | B | 28.4% | 9.5% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Sun Valley | C− | 33.2% | 12.3% | 17.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sparks adults live with a disability (Nevada 33.7%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sparks
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sparks is better than Nevada on 7 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Nevada figure falls inside Sparks’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sparks | NV | U.S. | vs NV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.5%19.3–23.7 | 22.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.7–15.7 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16.3–20.1 | 18.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.6%24.2–33.4 | 31.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.6%25.7–31.7 | 34% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%32.8–39.7 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.3%21.9–26.8 | 24.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 10.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%7–8.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%5.1–6.2 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.9–14.3 | 11.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%11.3–14.6 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.4%19.3–25.7 | 26.2% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.7%16–21.6 | 15.7% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.6%34.2–43.3 | 39.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.8%12–15.5 | 14.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.7%70.1–77.1 | 73.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.3%56.9–63.8 | 58.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.8%81.7–85.6 | 84.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.4%67.1–73.5 | 72.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.4%59.2–67.6 | 58.6% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.1%64.7–77.3 | 69.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18.3–24.3 | 20.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.7%34.9–42.9 | 36.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.3%23.4–29.8 | 27.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.4%14.6–18.5 | 18% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.1%12.5–16 | 15.6% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 9.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.1%8.2–10.2 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.6%11–14.4 | 15.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.1%27.8–34.4 | 33.7% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13%11.5–14.5 | 15.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%14.1–17.4 | 15.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.3–7.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.9–5.7 | 5.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7.3–8.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–3.8 | 4.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Nevada figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Sparks
Is Sparks a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sparks is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #10 of 42 in Nevada. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 58%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sparks?
CDC estimates 28.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.2% and 33.4%, against 31.3% across Nevada and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sparks?
Northern Nevada Medical Center in Sparks, 2.4 miles in a straight line from Sparks’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Sparks have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12–15.5%), against 14.5% across Nevada.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Sparks more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sparks.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Nevada figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.