The Town FilesSparta, Michigan
Township in Kent County · population 9,395 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $231,600
- Household income
- $76,346
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.0
Sparta is a township of 9,395 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $231,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 83% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 81% of Michigan towns.
How Sparta ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sparta is worth $231,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $76,346, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $968 a month. 84.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sparta | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $968 | $955 |
| Median household income | $76,346 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Sparta
| People | Sparta | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Sparta
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sparta since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 274 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 15, 1961.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 415,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,288 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Sparta itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Towns near Sparta
- Sparta, MI0.9 mi · 4,244 people · home $215,400
- Algoma, MI5.6 mi · 12,055 people · home $357,600
- Alpine, MI5.7 mi · 14,079 people · home $233,900
- Tyrone, MI6.2 mi · 5,021 people · home $238,400
- Casnovia, MI7.9 mi · 2,793 people · home $229,800
- Solon, MI8.4 mi · 6,496 people · home $256,900
- Plainfield, MI8.4 mi · 33,535 people · home $326,900
- Comstock Park, MI8.5 mi · 10,500 people · home $235,300
Sparta questions
Is Sparta, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sparta scores better for retirees than 12% of Michigan towns and quieter than 27%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Sparta?
The median owner-occupied home in Sparta is valued at $231,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,346, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $968 a month.
What is the weather like in Sparta?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.0 inches of snow.
Does Sparta get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sparta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)