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Living in
Sparks.
About
Life in Sparks
The job market is solid (4.2% unemployment), though the economy leans on tourism and hospitality tied to nearby Reno rather than diversified tech or industry, so job hunting may require some flexibility. The trade-off for affordability is weather: summers hit 92°F regularly with bone-dry air and wild day-to-night temperature swings, while winters are short but can dip below freezing at night, and you only get about 8 inches of rain annually, so dust and dryness are just part of life here. Outdoor access is excellent—Sparks Marina Park offers windsurfing, sailing, fishing, and dog parks, plus two golf courses and easy access to Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada within reasonable drive time.
Sparks at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Foreign-Born
15.9%
Broadband Internet
92.9%
of households
Population Growth
+3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Sparks: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sparks, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (47.8%), and 19.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.1%
of residents
65 and Older
15.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.2%
of households
Married Couples
44.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.58
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% above NV average
Rent, home values, and income in Sparks
In Sparks, rent runs 7% above the NV average, and home values are 11% above the NV average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,257
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $534,404 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts below NV average
Unemployment in Sparks and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Sparks is 1.1 percentage points lower than the NV average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Sparks Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Reno, NV metro area
Commute24 min avg
How Sparks residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sparks, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
Small hub2.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 114 mi
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Medium hub6.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 11% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sparks runs 11% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
364.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,264
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sparks Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 65 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washoe County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washoe County, which includes Sparks, the most common type is high wind, with 65 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 65 | High Wind | $1.5M |
| 2024 | 77 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 65 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 59 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 39 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 29 | Winter Weather | Not estimated |
| 2019 | 31 | Heavy Snow | $60,000 |
| 2018 | 45 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
207 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Washoe County, county-wide
Air Quality50 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washoe County, which includes Sparks, is typically good — 183 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
50
Good Days
183
per year
Moderate Days
180
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Washoe County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sparks has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
8.4"
Annual Snowfall
6.8"
Hot Days/Year
59
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
141
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
45
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 25°F | 1.28" |
| Feb | 53°F | 27°F | 1.00" |
| Mar | 60°F | 32°F | 0.85" |
| Apr | 65°F | 36°F | 0.51" |
| May | 74°F | 43°F | 0.69" |
| Jun | 84°F | 49°F | 0.39" |
| Jul | 92°F | 55°F | 0.42" |
| Aug | 91°F | 53°F | 0.28" |
| Sep | 84°F | 46°F | 0.24" |
| Oct | 72°F | 37°F | 0.91" |
| Nov | 57°F | 29°F | 0.70" |
| Dec | 47°F | 25°F | 1.11" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sparks
Sparks has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
10.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Northern Nevada Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Dini-townsend Hospital at Nnmh
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Renown Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Reno
VA Sierra Nevada Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Reno
Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.2 mi away · Reno
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education20.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sparks
Sparks's student/teacher ratio is 20.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 27.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
25
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sparks (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 15,599 students · in-state tuition $10,300 · 61% graduate · median earnings $67,303 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 551 students · 82% graduate · median earnings $44,935 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sparks
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Sparks
Sparks Library
1125 12th Street, Sparks
Cities Near Sparks
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sparks?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sparks FAQ
Is Sparks, Nevada affordable?⌄
Sparks's median rent is $1,716/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $89,056/year. Median home value is $483,800.
Is Sparks, Nevada safe?⌄
Sparks's violent crime rate was 365 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2264 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sparks, Nevada?⌄
Sparks has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sparks, Nevada?⌄
The cost of living in Sparks is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,716/month and median household income is $89,056/year. The median home value is $483,800. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sparks, Nevada?⌄
The average commute in Sparks is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from