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Pearson vs Sparta

137 miles apart. The biggest differences: average commute (27 min in Pearson) and growth since 2010 (+10.9 pts in Sparta).

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Pearson, GAOne of the healthiest townsGeorgia · 1,919 people

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Sparta, GAOne of the healthiest townsGeorgia · 1,830 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

PearsonOne of the healthiest towns

Health99% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$135K typical home59% below the GA typical home All about Pearson →

SpartaOne of the healthiest towns

Health99% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates

HistorySettled in 17952 places on the National Register Housing$229K typical home31% below the GA typical home All about Sparta →

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Average commute27 min

Pearson has the shorter commute

Sparta 47 minPearson 20 min

Growth since 2010+10.9 pts

Sparta has grown faster since 2010

Sparta -3.1%Pearson -14%

Pearson has more miles of trail

Pearson 0.8 miSparta 0.4 mi

Seasonal homes+10.3 pts

Sparta has more second homes

Sparta 10.3%Pearson 0%

Work in town+10 pts

More of Pearson’s workers stay in town

Pearson 17.8%Sparta 7.8%

Jobs per worker+60%

Pearson is more of a job hub

Pearson 1.49Sparta 0.93

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $730 more a month in Sparta

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Pearson$820/mo

Typical home $135K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $689/mo · Housing →

Sparta$1,540/mo

Typical home $229K (Zillow) · tax rate est. 1.8% · or rent about $906/mo · Housing →

The difference: $730 a month, about $8,700 a year, between Sparta and Pearson.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Georgia ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

B−PearsonBetter than 52% of districts in the state –SpartaNot graded

Health

D−PearsonHealthier than 1% of U.S. towns D−SpartaHealthier than under 1% of U.S. towns

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

PearsonSparta

Snow a year0″1″

January low38°F 35°F

July high92°F 92°F

Growing season (days)253d 241d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)40th 28th

Outdoors & history

PearsonSparta

Trails1 mi —

Conserved land0%—

Settled1875 1795

National Register places1 2

Archive photos2 12

Famous people born here1 14

Community

PearsonSparta

Library hours a week37 hrs 43 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

137 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

PearsonGA SpartaGA

Pearson ↔ Sparta137 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Georgia average

PearsonSparta

People

Population 1,919Highest 1,830Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -14%Lowest GA: +10.6% -3.1%Highest GA: +10.6%

Median age 33.9±4.2Highest 10% below GA 33.4±17.5Lowest 11% below GA

Pearson and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 24%±6.5Lowest GA: 23.2% 25.1%±11.3Highest GA: 23.2%

Sparta and Pearson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 15.2%±5.5Lowest GA: 15% 18.1%±8.6Highest GA: 15%

Sparta and Pearson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 6.2%Lowest GA: 34.9% 6.6%Highest GA: 34.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.3%±3.1Lowest GA: 6.4% 8.2%±3.7Highest GA: 6.4%

Sparta and Pearson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $32,286±$5k 58% below GA —

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $65,800±$12kHighest 78% below GA $56,400±$5kLowest 81% below GA

Pearson and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $689±$197Lowest 51% below GA $906±$538Highest 35% below GA

Sparta and Pearson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $651 72% below GA —

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 65%±30.1Lowest GA: 52.4% 78.3%±30.4Highest GA: 52.4%

Sparta and Pearson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 36.4%Lowest GA: 13.4% 47%Highest GA: 13.4%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 46.4%Lowest GA: 65.7% 52.2%Highest GA: 65.7%

Typical home builtmedian year 1984Lowest 8 yrs older than GA 1990Highest 2 yrs older than GA

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 30% below GA 47 minHighest 65% above GA

Work from home 5.6%±6Highest GA: 15.9% 0%±2.1Lowest GA: 15.9%

Pearson and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 17.8%Highest 7.8%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 15.8 miLowest 35.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.49Highest 0.93Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Douglas (20%)Milledgeville (8%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SpartaFew work in Pearson

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 0.8 miHighest 0.4 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 mi 0.2 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 45.1Lowest 52.8Highest

Schools

School district Atkinson County—

High school in town None in town—

Georgia average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Pearson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Pearson’s Town Square.

Sparta neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sparta’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Pearson and Sparta

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Pearson

Sparks2,056 people · $86K homes

Tennille1,650 people · $91K homes

Buena Vista1,717 people · $81K homes

Wrens2,187 people · $123K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Georgia towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.