The Town FilesSparta, Minnesota
Township in Chippewa County · population 741 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $255,200
- Household income
- $101,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 48.3
Sparta is a township of 741 people in Chippewa County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $255,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 95% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 94% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 81% of Minnesota towns.
How Sparta ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sparta is worth $255,200, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $101,250, which is more affordable than 84% of Minnesota towns. 95.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sparta | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $255,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $101,250 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 95.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in Sparta
| People | Sparta | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 13.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Sparta
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 2.0°F. About 29.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sparta since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 25, 2000 about 3.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 19, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 12, 2005.
Severe weather in Chippewa County since 1996
Chippewa County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 8, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4658: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Chippewa County
Chippewa County had 5,290 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,949 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Sparta itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Towns near Sparta
- Montevideo, MN1.6 mi · 5,398 people · home $141,000
- Granite Falls, MN11.6 mi · 2,737 people · home $136,700
- Clarkfield, MN12.0 mi · 852 people · home $95,600
- Clara City, MN15.6 mi · 1,423 people · home $114,300
- Dawson, MN17.9 mi · 1,466 people · home $137,500
- Sacred Heart, MN19.7 mi · 510 people · home $85,700
- Raymond, MN22.6 mi · 782 people · home $158,100
- Cottonwood, MN22.8 mi · 1,149 people · home $176,200
Sparta questions
Is Sparta, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sparta scores better for retirees than 94% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 32%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.3).
How much does a house cost in Sparta?
The median owner-occupied home in Sparta is valued at $255,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,250, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Sparta?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 2.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.4 inches of precipitation a year and 45.5 inches of snow.
Does Sparta get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sparta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 25, 2000. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)