City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Sumter, SC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Sumter - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

43,065
Residents
$53,071
Median income
$188,400
Median home
$1,276
Median rent (state)

Sumter - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Sumter lands in the 24th percentile for household income and the 4th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

24th
percentile, household income
39th
percentile, home value
44th
percentile, median rent
4th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Sumter, SC

43,065 people live in Sumter, South Carolina - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $53,071 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.1%. Home values in Sumter run a median of $188,400, and the median resident age is 33.3 years. 28.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Sumter's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 4803.6 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Sumter's yearly average temperature at 62.1°F with 48.8 inches of precipitation per year and 0.3 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 93.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,276 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $224 across South Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 81.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

43,065 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$53,071 /yr

Poverty 12.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Sumter compare to other US cities?

Where Sumter sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 39% pricier than other cities
Median rent 44% pricier than other cities
Safety 4% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to South Carolina alone, Sumter ranks #95 of 127 South Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Sumter's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in South Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

24thIncome percentile
4thSafety percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income · 4th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Sumter's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Sumter's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 29 Avg. percentile National median
Sumter's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Sumter's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$188,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 61% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sumter $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Sumter, SC Sumter, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sumter, SC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Sumter, SC median $53,071/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Sumter, SC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Sumter, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
43,065
Median Income
$53,071
Median Home Value
$188,400
Median Age
33.3
Poverty Rate
12.1%
Labor force participation
48.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4803.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1097.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3706.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.1°F
Annual Precipitation
48.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.3"

Schools

Total Schools
20
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
42,800 residents43,000 residents43,200 residents43,400 residents43,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 43,451 residents 43,094 residents ▼ -0.8%
Sumter's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.3%
Carpool
7.4%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
5.3%
Other
1.1%

Based on 18,289 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$52
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$224
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sumter sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,276/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
81.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Florence
40,205 people
Greer
39,191 people
Goose Creek
46,964 people
Spartanburg
38,578 people
Hilton Head Island
37,805 people
Myrtle Beach
37,214 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sumter's 43,065 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Woonsocket, RI
43,074 people
North Miami Beach, FL
43,104 people
Hollister, CA
43,003 people
Schertz, TX
43,128 people
Delaware, OH
43,168 people
West Babylon, NY
43,239 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sumter's $53,071 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Granite Quarry, NC
$53,072 median income
Sardis, GA
$53,077 median income
Ponca, NE
$53,077 median income
Hialeah, FL
$53,079 median income
Necedah, WI
$53,060 median income
Three Points, AZ
$53,083 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sumter, SC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Sumter, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 40.3% 47.7% 6.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.8% White 40.3% Black or African American 47.7% Asian 2.8% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.2% Two or more races 6.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Sumter compares to nearby South Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Sumter (this city) 43,065 $53,071
Florence 40,205 $56,433
Greer 39,191 $80,030
Goose Creek 46,964 $87,437
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sumter, SC?

What is the population of Sumter, SC? +

Sumter, SC has a population of 43,065 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sumter, SC? +

Sumter households earn a median of $53,071 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sumter? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sumter; the closest available measure is the South Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 93.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Sumter, SC safe? +

Sumter has a total crime rate of 4803.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Sumter, SC? +

Homes in Sumter carry a median value of $188,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Sumter? +

The average annual temperature in Sumter runs 62.1°F, 48.8 inches of precipitation, and 0.3 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.