The Town FilesSparta, New Jersey
Township in Sussex County · population 19,600 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $484,200
- Household income
- $167,963
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 41.2
Sparta is a township of 19,600 people in Sussex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $484,200, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of New Jersey towns, better for families than 93% of New Jersey towns, more upscale than 80% of New Jersey towns.
How Sparta ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sparta is worth $484,200, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $167,963, which is more affordable than 86% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,864 a month. 87.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sparta | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $484,200 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,864 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $167,963 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.4% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Sparta
| People | Sparta | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.5% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.1% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.0% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.3% | — |
| Work from home | 21.6% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 37.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 94.6% |
Weather in Sparta
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.1 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sparta since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 21, 2026 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Sussex County since 1996
Sussex County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Sussex County
Sussex County had 38,360 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,693 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Sparta itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Sparta
8 public schools with 4,249 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta High School | 9-12 | 1,045 | 10.3 |
| Alpine Elementary School | PK-2 | 792 | 13.9 |
| Sparta Middle School | 6-8 | 747 | 10.1 |
| Sussex County Technical School | 9-12 | 689 | 11.9 |
| Helen Morgan School | 4-5 | 462 | 11.6 |
| Mohawk Avenue School | 3-3 | 244 | 12.8 |
| Sussex County Technology Charter School (charter) | 6-8 | 220 | 9.6 |
| Northern Hills Academy | PK-12 | 50 | 5.0 |
Towns near Sparta
- Lake Mohawk, NJ3.5 mi · 9,759 people · home $441,700
- Franklin, NJ4.4 mi · 4,912 people · home $272,600
- Jefferson, NJ5.3 mi · 20,538 people · home $428,200
- Andover, NJ5.4 mi · 5,996 people · home $413,000
- Hardyston, NJ6.2 mi · 8,125 people · home $360,400
- Lake Hopatcong, NJ6.5 mi · 10,232 people · home $424,200
- Newton, NJ6.5 mi · 8,374 people · home $302,700
- Oak Ridge, NJ6.9 mi · 10,996 people · home $436,100
Sparta questions
Is Sparta, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sparta scores better for retirees than 63% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 63%. 13.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Sparta?
The median owner-occupied home in Sparta is valued at $484,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $167,963, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,864 a month.
What is the weather like in Sparta?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 28.1 inches of snow.
Does Sparta get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sparta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 21, 2026. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)