Sumter receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Gadsden
Sumter
Opportunity
32 · Bottom 10%
vs41 · Bottom 22%
Growth
42 · Bottom 37%
vs46 · Bottom 43%
Climate
78 · Top 7%
vs77 · Top 11%
Physical resilience
41 · Bottom 30%
vs52 · Bottom 46%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 37%
vs90 · Bottom 36%
Access
69 · Bottom 37%
vs78 · Top 48%
Economic stability
22 · Bottom 12%
vs34 · Bottom 25%
Measured values
| Metric | Gadsden | Sumter | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 103,105 | 104,725 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $54,563 | $56,693 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,604 | $30,466 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 193/sq mi | 157/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $167,100 | $165,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $847 | $1,057 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.9% | 68.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 5.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.3% | 1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 23.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 16.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 123 | 340 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.2 | 3.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 21.8% | -12.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 31°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 57.6" | 48.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 53 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 25.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.7 | 38.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Gadsden
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake, inland flooding.
Sumter
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake.
Full profiles: Gadsden, AL Metro Area · Sumter, SC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology