The Town FilesSparta, Missouri
City in Christian County · population 1,876 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,500
- Household income
- $63,182
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 37.0
Sparta is a city of 1,876 people in Christian County, Missouri. The median home is worth $181,500, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for families than 76% of Missouri towns.
How Sparta ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sparta is worth $181,500, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $63,182, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $768 a month. 67.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sparta | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,500 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $768 | $855 |
| Median household income | $63,182 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 67.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sparta
| People | Sparta | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 38.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 88.7% |
Weather in Sparta
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 19.6°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.7 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sparta since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 30, 2019 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 7, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 93 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 31, 2003.
Severe weather in Christian County since 1996
Christian County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| January 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Christian County
Christian County had 20,678 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,911 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Sparta itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Sparta
6 public schools with 1,018 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPARTA ELEM. | K-4 | 246 | 11.2 |
| SPARTA HIGH | 9-12 | 229 | 15.3 |
| SPARTA MIDDLE | 5-8 | 200 | 14.3 |
| CHADWICK ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 173 | 13.3 |
| CHADWICK HIGH | 7-12 | 133 | 13.3 |
| SPARTA PK | PK-PK | 37 | 18.5 |
Towns near Sparta
- Ozark, MO7.7 mi · 21,284 people · home $254,800
- Rogersville, MO7.8 mi · 3,897 people · home $217,900
- Fremont Hills, MO10.3 mi · 1,049 people · home $461,800
- Highlandville, MO11.7 mi · 963 people · home $201,000
- Nixa, MO12.0 mi · 23,257 people · home $258,700
- Fordland, MO13.2 mi · 778 people · home $130,000
- Springfield, MO17.6 mi · 169,176 people · home $177,700
- Battlefield, MO17.6 mi · 5,990 people · home $255,600
Sparta questions
Is Sparta, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sparta scores better for retirees than 48% of Missouri towns and quieter than 60%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Sparta?
The median owner-occupied home in Sparta is valued at $181,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,182, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $768 a month.
What is the weather like in Sparta?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 19.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 16.7 inches of snow.
Does Sparta get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sparta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 30, 2019. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)