Signals
Sumter
Baker
Opportunity
48 · Bottom 33%
vs55 · Bottom 48%
Climate
77 · Top 23%
vs77 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
53 · Bottom 45%
vs47 · Bottom 39%
Housing affordability
81 · Top 49%
vs91 · Top 29%
Access
78 · Bottom 20%
vs69 · Bottom 11%
Economic stability
38 · Bottom 14%
vs38 · Bottom 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Sumter | Baker | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,053 | 12,253 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $55,592 | $54,750 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,338 | $23,746 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,299/sq mi | 1,453/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $199,100 | $157,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,076 | $993 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.2% | 69.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.0% | 2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.7% | 20.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 29.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 42°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.8" | 61.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 42 mi | 56 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 26.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.6 | 33.5 | 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.
Baker
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Sumter, SC · Baker, LA · How this is calculated: methodology