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Sparta vs Union Township

206 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (10.4× in Sparta) and average commute (14 min in Union Township).

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Sparta, MOKnown for its schoolsMissouri · 2,331 people
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Union Township, MOOne of the healthiest townsDaviess County · 1,988 people
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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.

SpartaKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 79%of MO districts Health63% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Sparta →
Union TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health89% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 83%of MO districts All about Union Township →
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.

Street grid10.4×
Sparta has the more walkable street grid
Sparta 83.0Union Township 8.0
Average commute14 min
Union Township has the shorter commute
Sparta 39 minUnion Township 25 min
Property tax bill+33%
Tax bills are bigger in Sparta
Sparta $1,265Union Township $953
Typical home built26 yrs
Union Township’s homes are older
Sparta 1994Union Township 1968
Growth since 2010+7.3 pts
Sparta has grown faster since 2010
Sparta +6.8%Union Township -0.5%
Jobs per worker+71%
Union Township is more of a job hub
Union Township 0.84Sparta 0.49
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $580 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.

Sparta$1,540/mo
Typical home $265K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.70% · or rent about $768/mo · Housing →
Union Township$960/mo
Typical home $168K (Census) · tax rate 0.57% · or rent about $742/mo · Housing →

The difference: $580 a month, about $7,000 a year, between Sparta and Union Township.

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 Missouri ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
BSpartaSafer than 59% of U.S. towns –Union TownshipNot graded
Schools
A−SpartaBetter than 79% of districts in the state A−Union TownshipBetter than 83% of districts in the state
Health
C+SpartaHealthier than 37% of U.S. towns DUnion TownshipHealthier than 11% 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
SpartaUnion Township
Snow a year17″20″
January low20°F16°F
July high86°F86°F
Growing season (days)167d184d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)58th57th
Outdoors & history
SpartaUnion Township
Trails0 mi3 mi
Conserved land0%0.4%
Archive photos2—
Famous people born here1—
Community
SpartaUnion Township
Library hours a week58 hrs38 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

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

206 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SpartaMOUnion TownshipDaviess County
Sparta ↔ Union Township206 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.

SpartaUnion Township
People
Population 2,331Highest 1,988Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +6.8%Highest MO: +2.8% -0.5%Lowest MO: +2.8%
Median age 37±6.5Lowest 5% below MO 38.7±2.6Highest about the MO average
Union Township and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.8%±6.5Lowest MO: 22.3% 28.4%±2.5Highest MO: 22.3%
Union Township and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 19.5%±6.3Lowest MO: 17.9% 21.1%±3.2Highest MO: 17.9%
Union Township and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.1%Lowest MO: 32.4% 18.5%Highest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.6%±4.6Highest MO: 5.7% 2%±1Lowest MO: 5.7%
Sparta and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $63,182±$10kHighest 11% below MO $54,000±$8kLowest 24% below MO
Sparta and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $181,500±$32kHighest 21% below MO $167,700±$41kLowest 27% below MO
Sparta and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $768±$54Highest 26% below MO $742±$86Lowest 28% below MO
Sparta and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,265Highest 35% below MO $953Lowest 51% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 40.1%±6.6Highest MO: 45.6% 30.4%±13.6Lowest MO: 45.6%
Sparta and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11.9%Lowest MO: 12.6% 17.2%Highest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 67.8%Highest MO: 68.1% 66.9%Lowest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1994Highest 16 yrs newer than MO 1968Lowest 10 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 39 minHighest 65% above MO 25 minLowest 6% above MO
Work from home 4.8%±1.8Lowest MO: 13% 5.1%±2.8Highest MO: 13%
Union Township and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4.5%Lowest 12.7%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 17.3 miLowest 35.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.49Lowest 0.84Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Springfield (45%)Gallatin (11%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Union TownshipFew work in Sparta
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 0.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 3.2 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 83.0Highest 8.0Lowest
Schools
School district SPARTA R-IIIGALLATIN R-V
High school in town Sparta HighGallatin High
Students per teacherat that high school 13.4Highest 9.4Lowest
Missouri 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.

Sparta neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sparta’s Town Square.

Union Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Union Township’s Town Square.

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Missouri 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.

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