Compare towns
Springwater vs Sandgate vs Sparta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springwater has the most affordable homes ($148k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Sparta has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Springwater | Sandgate | Sparta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,503Highest |
435Lowest |
1,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.1Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.7±4.4 28% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sparta and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springwater and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,670±$16k 5% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$87,663±$6kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Sparta and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $147,500±$17kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kHighest 42% below U.S. |
$168,800±$27k 49% below U.S. |
| Sandgate and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$438Lowest 25% below U.S. |
— | $1,139±$164Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Sparta and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,579 15% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,596Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.8%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springwater and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate 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 |
U.S. 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.