Sumter receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Sumter
Gadsden
Opportunity
41 · Bottom 22%
vs32 · Bottom 10%
Growth
46 · Bottom 43%
vs42 · Bottom 37%
Climate
77 · Top 11%
vs78 · Top 7%
Physical resilience
52 · Bottom 46%
vs41 · Bottom 30%
Housing affordability
90 · Bottom 36%
vs98 · Top 37%
Access
78 · Top 48%
vs69 · Bottom 37%
Economic stability
34 · Bottom 25%
vs22 · Bottom 12%
Measured values
| Metric | Sumter | Gadsden | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,725 | 103,105 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $56,693 | $54,563 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,466 | $29,604 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 157/sq mi | 193/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $165,300 | $167,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,057 | $847 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.1% | 73.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.0% | -2.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 18.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 16.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 340 | 123 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -12.1% | 21.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.8" | 57.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 42 mi | 53 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 27.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 41.7 | 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
Sumter
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake.
Gadsden
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Sumter, SC Metro Area · Gadsden, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology