Compare towns
Sparta vs Throop vs Springwater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sparta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Throop has the most people working from home (7.5%).
Springwater has the most affordable homes ($148k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sparta | Throop | Springwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,479Lowest |
1,651 |
2,503Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-6.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.4 25% above NY |
52.7±3.1Highest 32% above NY |
45.6±4.1Lowest 15% above NY |
| Throop and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.4%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.6%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Sparta and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Throop and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
28.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.1%±1.6 NY: 7% |
4.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Springwater and Throop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,663±$6k about the NY average |
$90,268±$15kHighest 5% above NY |
$84,670±$16kLowest about the NY average |
| Throop and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,800±$27k 60% below NY |
$185,900±$20kHighest 56% below NY |
$147,500±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
| Throop and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$164Highest 30% below NY |
$1,099±$88 32% below NY |
$1,063±$438Lowest 34% below NY |
| Sparta and Throop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,596 45% below NY |
$4,261Highest 35% below NY |
$3,579Lowest 46% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 NY: 52.1% |
51.4%±69.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
74.8%±22Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Springwater and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest NY: 14% |
5.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
93.3% NY: 54.3% |
86.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 8% below NY |
26 minLowest 19% below NY |
31 minHighest 5% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.5%±3.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.1%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Throop and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.