The Town FilesSparta, Illinois
City in Randolph County · population 4,095 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,200
- Household income
- $52,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 41.4
Sparta is a city of 4,095 people in Randolph County, Illinois. The median home is worth $111,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Illinois towns, hipper than 89% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Sparta ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sparta is worth $111,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $52,188, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $762 a month. 57.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sparta | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $762 | $960 |
| Median household income | $52,188 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Sparta
| People | Sparta | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Sparta
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 21.6°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sparta since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 29, 1982 about 8.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 6, 2003.
Severe weather in Randolph County since 1996
Randolph County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Randolph County
Randolph County had 11,393 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,632 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Sparta itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Sparta
2 public schools with 1,080 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta Lincoln School | PK-8 | 741 | 14.5 |
| Sparta High School | 9-12 | 339 | 16.1 |
Towns near Sparta
- Red Bud, IL15.5 mi · 3,804 people · home $171,000
- Chester, IL15.7 mi · 6,814 people · home $111,700
- Ste. Genevieve, MO20.8 mi · 4,999 people · home $172,400
- Pinckneyville, IL22.2 mi · 5,066 people · home $133,500
- Freeburg, IL23.0 mi · 4,582 people · home $241,200
- Nashville, IL23.2 mi · 3,105 people · home $156,500
- Smithton, IL23.6 mi · 4,006 people · home $256,300
- Mascoutah, IL26.4 mi · 8,754 people · home $224,900
Sparta questions
Is Sparta, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sparta scores better for retirees than 68% of Illinois towns and quieter than 42%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Sparta?
The median owner-occupied home in Sparta is valued at $111,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,188, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $762 a month.
What is the weather like in Sparta?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 21.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 10.6 inches of snow.
Does Sparta get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sparta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 29, 1982. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)