Population

Raeford

4,545

Sparta

4,260

Median Income

Raeford

$43,311

Sparta

$55,474

Home Value

Raeford

$177,900

Sparta

$190,100

Rent

Raeford

$791

Sparta

$954

Crime Rate

Raeford

1.10

Sparta

1.87

Cost of Living

Raeford

79.7

Sparta

95.4

Avg Temp

Raeford

N/A

Sparta

N/A

Unemployment

Raeford

5.2%

Sparta

4.8%

Loading map…

How Similar Are Raeford & Sparta?

Sparta is Raeford's #15 most similar city

5/10

5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Raeford

4,545

vs

Sparta

4,260

Match · 6% difference

Both cities have similar populations — Raeford at 4,545 and Sparta at 4,260.

Violent Crime

Raeford

1.10

vs

Sparta

1.87

Different · 41% difference
🚨

Sparta has a 41% higher violent crime than Raeford.

Property Crime

🔒

Raeford

14.32

vs

Sparta

7.71

Different · 46% difference

Raeford has a 46% higher property crime than Sparta.

Political Leaning

Raeford

46.4%

vs

Sparta

46.5%

Match · 0% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic with similar vote shares — 0% difference.

Unemployment

💼

Raeford

5.2%

vs

Sparta

4.8%

Match · 8% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 8% difference.

Median Income

Raeford

$43,311

vs

Sparta

$55,474

Different · 22% difference
💰

Sparta has a 22% higher median income than Raeford.

Home Values

🏠

Raeford

$177,900

vs

Sparta

$190,100

Match · 6% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 6% difference.

Education

Raeford

13.8%

vs

Sparta

13.8%

Match · 0% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 0% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Raeford

39.8%

vs

Sparta

92.1%

Different · 57% difference

Sparta's demographics is significantly higher than Raeford's — 57% difference.

Cost of Living

Raeford

79.7

vs

Sparta

95.4

Different · 16% difference
💵

Sparta has a 16% higher cost of living than Raeford.

5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Raeford and Sparta share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Raeford

vsof 8

0

Sparta

Sparta leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Raeford leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Raeford has a fair market rent (1br) of $761 vs $1,278 in Sparta (40% lower). Raeford has a fair market rent (2br) of $998 vs $1,531 in Sparta (35% lower). Raeford scores 66.2 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 84.8 in Sparta.

Overall Cost Index

Raeford79.7
Sparta95.4

Housing Index

Raeford85.8
Sparta105.9

Food Index

Raeford83.1
Sparta92.4

Transportation Index

Raeford66.2
Sparta84.8

Healthcare Index

Raeford86.5
Sparta93.9

Utilities Index

Raeford87.0
Sparta96.6

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Raeford$35,073
Sparta$41,989

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Raeford$82,900
Sparta$99,246

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Raeford$761
Sparta$1,278

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Raeford$998
Sparta$1,531

Housing Market — Sparta leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Sparta has a vacancy rate of 3.8% compared to 14.8% in Raeford. Raeford has a median property tax of $1,251 vs $2,711 in Sparta (54% lower). Raeford has a median rent of $791 vs $954 in Sparta (17% lower).

Median Home Value

Raeford$177,900
Sparta$190,100

Median Rent

Raeford$791
Sparta$954

Median Property Tax

Raeford$1,251
Sparta$2,711

Owner-Occupied

Raeford58.6%
Sparta69.5%

Vacancy Rate

Raeford14.8%
Sparta3.8%

Single-Family Homes

Raeford73.2%
Sparta76.0%

Jobs & Economy — Sparta leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Sparta has a poverty rate of 11.3% compared to 23.5% in Raeford. Sparta has a work from home of 13.7% compared to 6.8% in Raeford. Sparta has a median household income of $55,474 vs $43,311 in Raeford (22% higher).

Median Household Income

Raeford$43,311
Sparta$55,474

Per Capita Income

Raeford$23,450
Sparta$27,440

Poverty Rate

Raeford23.5%
Sparta11.3%

Unemployment Rate

Raeford5.2%
Sparta4.8%

Labor Force

Raeford1,729
Sparta2,145

Mean Commute

RaefordN/A
SpartaN/A

Work from Home

Raeford6.8%
Sparta13.7%

Private Sector

Raeford76.7%
Sparta85.8%

Government Sector

Raeford34.1%
Sparta43.1%

Crime & Safety — Sparta leads

Source: FBI UCR

Sparta has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 6.31 compared to 12.78 in Raeford. Sparta has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 7.71 compared to 14.32 in Raeford. Raeford has a assault rate (per 1k) of 0.66 compared to 1.40 in Sparta.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Raeford1.10
Sparta1.87

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Raeford14.32
Sparta7.71

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Raeford0.00
Sparta0.00

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Raeford0.22
Sparta0.00

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Raeford0.66
Sparta1.40

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Raeford0.88
Sparta0.70

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Raeford12.78
Sparta6.31

Violent Crime Clearance

Raeford60.0%
Sparta62.5%

Property Crime Clearance

Raeford16.9%
Sparta0.0%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

RaefordN/A
SpartaN/A

Avg Annual High

RaefordN/A
SpartaN/A

Avg Annual Low

RaefordN/A
SpartaN/A

Sunny Days per Year

RaefordN/A
SpartaN/A

Annual Rainfall

RaefordN/A
SpartaN/A

Annual Snowfall

RaefordN/A
SpartaN/A

Avg Humidity

RaefordN/A
SpartaN/A

Schools & Education — Sparta leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Sparta has a high school diploma or higher of 38.0% compared to 34.7% in Raeford.

Public Schools

Raeford0
Sparta0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

RaefordN/A
SpartaN/A

Colleges & Universities

Raeford0
Sparta0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Raeford13.8%
Sparta13.8%

High School Diploma or Higher

Raeford34.7%
Sparta38.0%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Raeford has a population of 4,545, about 1.1x the size of Sparta (4,260). Sparta skews younger with a median age of 33.7 vs 36.2.

Population

Raeford4,545
Sparta4,260

Median Age

Raeford36
Sparta34

Avg Household Size

Raeford2.6
Sparta2.4

Married Population

Raeford31.7%
Sparta33.3%

Foreign Born

Raeford3.1%
Sparta2.4%

White

Raeford39.8%
Sparta92.1%

Black

Raeford41.5%
Sparta0.7%

Hispanic

Raeford6.5%
Sparta2.6%

Asian

Raeford0.0%
Sparta1.3%

Raeford

Sparta

Healthcare

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Raeford: 4 vs Sparta: 3 for with emergency services. Sparta: 4.3 vs Raeford: 3.2 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Raeford5
Sparta5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Raeford3.2
Sparta4.3

With Emergency Services

Raeford4
Sparta3

Transportation & Commute

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Sparta has a work from home of 13.7% compared to 6.8% in Raeford.

Mean Commute Time

RaefordN/A
SpartaN/A

Drive Alone

Raeford79.7%
Sparta79.3%

Public Transit

Raeford0.7%
Sparta0.0%

Bicycle

Raeford0.0%
Sparta0.0%

Work from Home

Raeford6.8%
Sparta13.7%

Airports

Raeford0
Sparta0

Cities Similar to Raeford, NC

Compare Raeford against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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