Is South Sumter, SC a Good Place to Live?
South Sumter is a small town of 1,564 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $40,039 and a 7.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.
Strengths: South Sumter stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether South Sumter is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All South Sumter city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 88.3South Sumter's overall cost of living index is 88.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Sumter costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
| Metric | South Sumter, SC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $78,200 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $751 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.8% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $40,039 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
High CrimeSouth Sumter's violent crime rate is 918.3 per 100,000 residents — 142% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
| Metric | South Sumter, SC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | N/A | — |
| Elementary Schools | N/A | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | N/A | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 79.3% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
South Sumter sees average highs of 55.1°F in January and 90.2°F in July, with 48.8 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | South Sumter, SC |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 55.1°F |
| Average High — July | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" |
Demographics
| Metric | South Sumter, SC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,564 | — |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 20.6 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 7.2% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 92.8% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 15.7% | 16.8% |