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City · 9,950 residents · Monroe County, Wisconsin

Sparta , Wisconsin

In Sparta, a typical home is worth $180,600 and typical rent is $861 a month. Compared with all of Monroe County, the typical home value is 14% lower, typical household income is 6% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $180,600

    14% below the county

    32% below Wisconsin

    • Sparta
    • Monroe
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $861a month

    6% below the county

    21% below Wisconsin

    • Sparta
    • Monroe
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $64,973a year

    6% below the county

    16% below Wisconsin

    • Sparta
    • Monroe
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    65%

    8 points below the county

    3 points below Wisconsin

    • Sparta
    • Monroe
    • Wisconsin

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$276,874
5.1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Sparta is in Monroe County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Monroe County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Sparta apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 65% of households in Sparta own their home, against 73% in Monroe County.

  2. 5% of households in Sparta have no internet at home (11% in Monroe County).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Sparta

What homes there are in Sparta, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Sparta, but it weighs less than in Monroe County: 61% against 73%.

Year built

Homes in Sparta are older: the typical year built is 1975; in Monroe County, 1980.

There are fewer big homes in Sparta than in Monroe County: 60% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 65%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Sparta are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Monroe County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,370 a month

Monroe County: $1,487 a month

Without a mortgage

$546 a month

Monroe County: $539 a month

Owners with a mortgage

60%

Monroe County: 55%

Owning costs less in Sparta: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,370 a month; in Monroe County, $1,487. Without one, $546.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Sparta rose 47% since 2015–2019, more than in Monroe County (36%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Sparta did not change clearly, according to the Census.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSpartaMonroe CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.8%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.272.482.332.53
Drive alone 74%77%74%69%
Carpool 8%8%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 4%3%3%3%
Work from home 10%9%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Sparta are smaller: 2.27 people on average; in Monroe County, 2.48.

In Sparta, 74% of workers drive alone to work; in Monroe County, 77%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Sparta?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Sparta, worth $180,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 30% of the typical household income in Sparta, which is $64,973 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $68,710 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Monroe County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Sparta. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,321 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,603

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$177,329
Total interest
$255,135
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,050 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,516 a month

  • Tight

    $1,516 to $1,949 a month

    Your payment · 30%

  • Hard

    more than $1,949 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Sparta ($64,973 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,603
Principal & interest$1,201
Property tax$247
Home insurance$75
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$80

You need at least $6,321 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Sparta and Monroe County

Sparta is in Monroe County, Wisconsin. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Sparta's own numbers

Typical home value
$180,600
Typical monthly rent
$861
Typical yearly household income
$64,973
Households that own their home
65%
Effective property tax rate
1.64%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Monroe County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,039
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+55%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Monroe County.

Everything about Monroe County

Buying

Buying a home in Sparta

A typical home in Sparta is worth $180,600: 14% below the county and 32% below Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Sparta ($64,973 a year), a typical home costs 2.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Sparta 2.8 years
  • Monroe 3.0 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Monroe County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Monroe County rose 90% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Monroe County.

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.4% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +55% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +90% +96% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Sparta next to Monroe County, Wisconsin and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Sparta $180,600
  • Monroe $210,000
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Sparta $861
  • Monroe $914
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Sparta $64,973
  • Monroe $69,467
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Sparta next to Monroe County and Wisconsin
Measure Sparta Monroe County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $180,600 $210,000 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $861 $914 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $64,973 $69,467 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 65% 73% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,963 $2,826 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.64% 1.35% 1.42% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 35% 40% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Monroe County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Sparta

For a typical $180,600 home in Sparta, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Sparta's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,603a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,321
    Cash to close
    $11,739
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $80

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,570a month

    Down payment
    $9,030
    Cash to close
    $14,448
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $86

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,301a month

    Down payment
    $36,120
    Cash to close
    $41,538
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,468a month

    Down payment
    $27,090
    Cash to close
    $32,508
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Sparta and for Monroe County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Sparta

1.64%of the home’s value each year

$2,963 a year for the typical owner in Sparta.

  • Sparta 1.64%
  • Monroe 1.35%
  • Wisconsin 1.42%

What Wisconsin publishes Lottery and Gaming Credit for your primary residence (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Wisconsin

Flood risk in Monroe County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Monroe County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.5%
557
Of those, with NFIP insurance
13%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.5% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 13% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Sparta

Typical rent in Sparta is $861 a month: 6% below the county. In Sparta, 35% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Monroe County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,039 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.98 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Monroe County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $724 $13.92 $28,960
1 bedroom $833 $16.02 $33,320
2 bedrooms $1,039 $19.98 $41,560
3 bedrooms $1,383 $26.60 $55,320
4 bedrooms $1,469 $28.25 $58,760

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Sparta

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Sparta is in ZIP code 54656.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,050: $11 more than the fair market rent for Monroe County ($1,039).

  • 54656 $1,050$1,370

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Sparta when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Sparta

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Sparta. These are the largest.

  • Fairview Estates/Sparta Arms 106 N L St, Sparta 54656 58 low-income homes · For families (608) 269-4070
  • Brookside Apts 307 N Court St, Sparta 54656 58 homes, 56 low-income · Run by Sparta Housing Authority · Average payment: $430 a month · Average wait: 2 months (507) 451-8524
  • Bayshore Townhomes 623 E Main St, Sparta 54656 32 homes, 8 low-income · 2 bd: 13 · 3 bd: 19 · In service since 2017

See all 8 buildings in Monroe County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Sparta

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Monroe County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Sparta

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Sparta or Monroe County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Sparta the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Wisconsin

  • WHEDA Easy Close Advantage DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Wisconsin state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to 6% of the price, over 10 years with a monthly payment and the same rate as the WHEDA first mortgage. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • WHEDA Capital Access DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    $7,500 loan from the Wisconsin state agency for the down payment and closing costs, over 30 years, at 0% and with no monthly payments, alongside a WHEDA mortgage; limited funds, first come, first served. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Sparta

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Sparta, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Couleecap Inc.

    201 Melby St, Westby · 20 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Hmong.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (608) 782-4877

  • Catholic Charities - La Crosse, Inc.

    3710 East Ave S, La Crosse · 23 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (608) 782-0710

  • CCCS of Sheboygan

    505 King Street, Suite 212, La Crosse · 24 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (844) 307-7220

All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Sparta

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Sparta

HUD’s record names them for Sparta or Monroe County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

One other authority has an office in Monroe County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Monroe County

These cities are also in Monroe County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Monroe County Housing in Wisconsin

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Sparta, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Monroe County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Sparta.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Sparta

Short answers with the numbers for Sparta and all of Monroe County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Sparta?

The typical home value in Sparta is $180,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Monroe County it is $210,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Sparta?

Typical rent in Sparta is $861 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Monroe County is $1,039.

What is the FHA loan limit in Sparta?

Sparta uses the FHA limit for all of Monroe County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Sparta?

The typical homeowner in Sparta pays $2,963 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.64% of the home’s value; in Monroe County, the rate is 1.35%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Sparta?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Monroe County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).