Sumter receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Rocky Mount
Sumter
Opportunity
24 · Bottom 4%
vs41 · Bottom 22%
Growth
47 · Bottom 45%
vs46 · Bottom 43%
Climate
75 · Top 18%
vs77 · Top 11%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 34%
vs52 · Bottom 46%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 33%
vs90 · Bottom 36%
Access
73 · Bottom 44%
vs78 · Top 48%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 35%
vs34 · Bottom 25%
Measured values
| Metric | Rocky Mount | Sumter | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 144,952 | 104,725 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,636 | $56,693 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,904 | $30,466 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 139/sq mi | 157/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $167,800 | $165,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $920 | $1,057 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.6% | 68.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 5.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | 1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 23.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 16.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 498 | 340 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.4 | 3.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -12.5% | -12.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 31°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.4" | 48.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 43 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 25.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.6 | 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
Rocky Mount
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Sumter
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Rocky Mount
57
Your Score
54
Area Score
Sumter
60
Your Score
58
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area · Sumter, SC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology