Sparta
Great schools with outdoor access
30 homes for sale·Median $315K·Walkability 3.4/10·Schools 7.0/10
The sound hits first—not sirens or traffic, but the hum of fruit trucks rolling through town and the occasional bell from the crosswalk downtown. Sparta Township sits about 17 miles north of Grand Rapids, close enough that commuters can reach downtown in roughly 23 minutes, far enough that orchards still define the horizon. This is apple country, and has been for over a century: the Fruit Ridge spreads across 20 miles of some of Michigan's best growing land, and you'll see the evidence everywhere—packing sheds, fruit stands, the rhythm of harvest. Homes here run around $308K, most of them owner-occupied ranches and historic cottages, the kind of place where a Myers School Museum (built in 1873, still standing) feels less like a relic and more like a neighbor. The annual AppleJacks Festival and Sparta Town & Country Days draw crowds each year, but the real draw is simpler: a working small town where you can walk to restaurants and grocers from downtown, where Sparta Area Schools has deep roots, and where you're not choosing between rural quiet and urban access—you get both. In 2007, the White House designated Sparta a Preserve America Community, one of only 11 in Michigan. That's not a marketing tagline; it's what happens when a place takes itself seriously without trying too hard.
Why people love it here
Lake life
- Camp Lake within walking distance
- 45 parks within 1 mile
- BETTES MEMORIAL PARK: 3 min walk
- Lamoreaux Park: 8 min bike
Sparta Senior High School
- High — 1.0 mi away
- Sparta
- 3 rated schools in district
$76K median household income
- $315K median · 104 sales in last 12mo
Explore Sparta
Same name, different focus — Sparta is also covered as:
- Sparta Village — village details
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Sparta
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,138/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
104 homes sold in Sparta this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 5/10 to 9/10
School District: Sparta Area Schools
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
SARA Sports Park
0.3 mi
Parks Nearby
45
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Camp Lake
0.3 mi
Walkability
Limited
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Family Fare Supermarket
McDonald's
+1 more
Sparta Hot Spot LLC
+1 more
The Garden Patch Restaurant
+1 more
BETTES MEMORIAL PARK
+1 more
Lamoreaux Park Playground
Wallace Lake
Unnamed beach
Unnamed bike_path
Camp Lake Launch
Rite Aid
Sparta Township Library and Community Enrichment Center
Most of Sparta is policed by the Kent County Sheriff's Office. Across that jurisdiction in 2024, the most common reported offenses were larceny / theft (660 per 100,000 residents) and aggravated assault (108 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
No homicides were reported in 2024.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 660 |
| Aggravated assault | 108 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 76 |
| Burglary | 66 |
| Rape | 43 |
| Robbery | 5 |
| Arson | 5 |
| Homicide | 0 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Kent County Sheriff's Office, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Figures cover the Kent County Sheriff's Office's full jurisdiction (the county's unincorporated areas), not Sparta alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Sparta home (around $314,950) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $52k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $1,933 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Sparta household earns $75,630 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $482,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $1,933/mo | $51,548 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,250/mo | $60,001 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,356/mo | $62,827 |
Estimates use a 6.49% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price and median property taxes, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Land for sale
Listings
17 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$41K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$85K
Per listing
Multifamily for sale
Listings
2 buildings
Active / pending
Median Price
$235K
Per building
Price Per Unit
$117K
Median
Who actually lends in Sparta, and how homes here are financed — from 2024 federal mortgage records.
Loans to buy a home
Most active lenders
Homeowners refinancing an existing mortgage
Most active lenders
Source: 2024 HMDA (CFPB/FFIEC). Neighborhood figures are area-weighted estimates from census-tract data; loan amounts are rounded and all-cash purchases are excluded.
Solar potential
~$877/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,396 kWh/yr · offsets ~61% of a typical home's use
Municipal / public water
Based on assessor parcel records
Municipal sewer
Based on assessor parcel records
Utility, solar, and service details for Sparta are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
Median Income
$76K
Home Value (Census)
$222K
🍕 Restaurants(18)
Maxine's Family Restaurant
Restaurant
Sparta Lanes
Restaurant
Brick Haus Brews
Restaurant
Downtown Trini's
Restaurant
Angela's Pizza
Restaurant
+13 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(5)
+2 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(7)
The Garden Patch Restaurant
Bar
Cellar Brewing Company
Pub
Angela's Italian Restaurant
Bar
+4 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(16)
Holy Family School
Sparta Senior High School
School
White School
Myers School
Spangenberg School
+11 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(3)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
💊 Pharmacies(1)
Rite Aid
Pharmacy
📚 Libraries(1)
Sparta Township Library and Community Enrichment Center
Frequently asked about Sparta
- What do homes cost in Sparta?
- The median home value in Sparta is about $314,950. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Sparta housing market?
- there are 30 homes for sale in Sparta right now, and 104 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Sparta?
- Sparta is served by Sparta Area Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Sparta Senior High School (9/10).
- Is Sparta walkable?
- Sparta scores 3.4/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
