City Report · NV

Sparks

Pop. 110,024·3rd most expensive in Nevada·Sparks rents are up 10.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,140/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

+$208

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Sparks rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Sparks · $2,140

More expensive than 67% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

56/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Sparks's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,140/mo

Expected by trend

$2,204/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Sparks's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,428

1 BR

$1,660

2 BR

$2,088

3 BR

$2,898

4 BR+

$3,405

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,088/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,140 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in Sparks usually run 1.4% below trend in January and 1.1% above it in August, about $54 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Sparks is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Nevada

Rent in Sparks changed +10.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 Nevada cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.9%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Sparks rose 25.8% while median household income rose 37.8% ($64,645 to $89,056). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Sparks is 42.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 21 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($89,056) is $2,226 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,088); a 3-bedroom is $2,898.

Spread across ZIP codes

The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Sparks, 89436 ($2,359/mo), costs 36% more than the cheapest, 89431 ($1,734/mo).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Sparks. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$25,680/yr

At $2,140/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 10.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.3% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Sparks, NV is majority owner-occupied, 27.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

110,024

Median income

$89,056

Median age

37.2

Renters

40.2%

Age distribution

22.1%

24.9%

26.1%

15.7%

Under 1822.1%

18–3424.9%

35–5426.1%

55–6411.2%

65+15.7%

Gender

51%

49%

Male51%

Female49%

Race & ethnicity

57.9%

32.4%

White57.9%

Black2.4%

Hispanic32.4%

Asian6.4%

Other0.9%

Education (25+)

12.4%

24.3%

35.6%

27.6%

No HS diploma12.4%

HS diploma24.3%

Some college35.6%

Bachelor's+27.6%

Housing tenure

59.8%

40.2%

Owner59.8%

Renter40.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Sparks, NV has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,668 → $2,140

up 28.3%

Income

$73,678 → $89,056

up 20.9%

Population

106,900 → 110,024

up 2.9%

Renter share

41.5% → 40.2%

-1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

24.6% → 27.6%

+3.0 pts

Median age

37.7 → 37.2

-0.5 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Sparks, NV has climbed by $472 per month, settling near $2,140 after starting the period at $1,668. On the earnings side, the typical household in Sparks, NV now reports about $89,056, up from $73,678 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 7.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 106,900 to 110,024 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.9% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 24.6% to 27.6%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Sparks, NV reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Sparks

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Sparks rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Sparks on your salary?

At $2,140/mo, how Sparks rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $91,646/yr · Rent = 28% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $65,068/yr · Rent = 39.5% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $74,952/yr · Rent = 34.3% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $133,967/yr · Rent = 19.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $171,176/yr · Rent = 15% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $60,926/yr · Rent = 42.1% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $55,009/yr · Rent = 46.7% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $67,803/yr · Rent = 37.9% income

stretched

By apartment size

Sparks rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Sparks. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Sparks

About renting in Sparks, NV

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Sparks is $2,140/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,428/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,088/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,660/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,898/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($89,056/yr), Sparks ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Sparks?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $86,000/year (about $41/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,140/mo in Sparks. The local median household income is $89,056/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Sparks?

Rent in Sparks has risen 10.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Sparks?

Asking rents in Sparks are usually lowest in January, about 1.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $54 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Sparks?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Sparks rose 25.8% while median household income rose 37.8%, from $64,645 to $89,056. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which Sparks neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Sparks are 89431 ($1,734/mo), 89434 ($2,171/mo), and 89436 ($2,359/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $2,140/mo.

How does Sparks rent compare to other cities in Nevada?

Sparks is one of the pricier among Nevada cities for rent, ranking #3 of 18 tracked cities at $2,140/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Sparks changed +10.3%, against a typical +4.9% across the 14 Nevada cities Zillow tracks.