The Town FilesSumter, South Carolina
City in Sumter County · population 43,463 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,100
- Household income
- $55,592
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 33.6
Sumter is a city of 43,463 people in Sumter County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $199,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 82% of South Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 77% of South Carolina towns.
How Sumter ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sumter is worth $199,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $55,592, which is more affordable than 45% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,076 a month. 57.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sumter | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,076 | $937 |
| Median household income | $55,592 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 57.2% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Sumter
| People | Sumter | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.7% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 14.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Sumter
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 32.8°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sumter since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 15, 2007 about 3.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Sumter County since 1996
Sumter County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
| November 21, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4677: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Sumter County
Sumter County had 35,179 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,273 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Sumter itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Sumter
21 public schools with 13,104 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter High School | 9-12 | 2,214 | 18.0 |
| Crestwood High | 9-12 | 1,117 | 23.3 |
| Lakewood High | 9-12 | 1,016 | 21.6 |
| Alice Drive Middle | 6-8 | 778 | 16.6 |
| Furman Middle | 6-8 | 669 | 19.1 |
| Millwood Elementary | PK-5 | 666 | 17.1 |
| Pocalla Springs Elementary | PK-5 | 643 | 16.1 |
| Kingsbury Elementary | PK-5 | 584 | 13.6 |
| Liberty STEAM Charter School (charter) | K-3 | 584 | 13.9 |
| Alice Drive Elementary | PK-5 | 551 | 15.3 |
| Willow Drive Elementary | PK-5 | 539 | 15.0 |
| Bates Middle | 6-8 | 525 | 13.8 |
Towns near Sumter
- Cherryvale, SC3.7 mi · 2,405 people · home $90,500
- Mulberry, SC4.0 mi · 540 people · home $148,600
- Cane Savannah, SC4.3 mi · 1,335 people · home $265,500
- South Sumter, SC5.1 mi · 1,989 people · home $69,900
- Dalzell, SC5.9 mi · 3,175 people · home $157,500
- East Sumter, SC6.0 mi · 1,135 people · home $72,900
- Oakland, SC6.7 mi · 1,099 people · home $123,200
- Stateburg, SC7.8 mi · 1,593 people · home $206,700
Sumter questions
Is Sumter, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sumter scores better for retirees than 34% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 11%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Sumter?
The median owner-occupied home in Sumter is valued at $199,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,592, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,076 a month.
What is the weather like in Sumter?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 32.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Sumter get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sumter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 15, 2007. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)