CountyScore

Sumter County

Georgia · GA

#143 in Georgia
62.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Sumter County, Georgia

Well Above the National Middle

Sumter County scores 66.5 on the CountyScore composite index, placing it 33 percentile points above the national median of 50.0. This means Sumter outperforms two-thirds of U.S. counties on overall livability.

Just Below Georgia's Average

Sumter County ranks in the middle of Georgia's county distribution, scoring 66.5 versus the state average of 70.9. The county performs solidly but has room to catch up with Georgia's best performers.

Affordable Living, Reasonable Taxes

Sumter excels in housing affordability with a cost score of 81.4 and median home values at just $122,300. An effective tax rate of 1.321% and median rent of $847 per month make this county accessible for budget-conscious families.

Income Growth Lags Behind

The income score of 10.7 signals that Sumter faces a significant economic challenge, with a median household income of just $41,877. Several key health, safety, and educational dimensions lack current data, limiting a full livability assessment.

A Budget Haven With Growth Potential

Sumter County suits families and retirees prioritizing affordability and low taxes over high incomes. This is a good fit for those willing to trade earning potential for cost-of-living savings and a slower-paced lifestyle.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax65.1Cost81.4SafetyComing SoonHealth56.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome10.7Risk46.8WaterComing Soon
🏛65.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠81.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼10.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤56.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡46.8
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Sumter County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Bay County
Florida
62.2
Median income: $70,188
Douglas County
Georgia
62.2
Median income: $80,764
Muscogee County
Georgia
62.2
Median income: $56,622
Douglas County
Illinois
62.2
Median income: $74,186
Linn County
Iowa
62.2
Median income: $76,421

Deep Dives

Sumter County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Sumter County

via TaxByCounty

Sumter's tax rate runs high

At 1.321%, Sumter County's effective property tax rate sits well above the national median of 0.898%, putting it in the top 25% of U.S. counties by tax burden. Homeowners here pay a median of $1,616 annually compared to the national median of $2,690, largely because median home values are lower at $122,300 versus $281,900 nationally.

Second-highest rate in Georgia

Sumter County ranks second among Georgia's 159 counties for effective tax rate at 1.321%, compared to the state average of 0.898%. This means Sumter homeowners pay about 47% more in effective taxes than typical Georgia residents.

Higher than surrounding counties

Sumter's 1.321% rate significantly exceeds nearby Talbot County (1.088%) and Taliaferro County (1.254%). Among the eight-county region examined, only Taliaferro edges closer to Sumter's burden, while Taylor County offers the lowest rate at 0.897%.

What a $122,300 home costs

A homeowner with a median-valued property in Sumter County pays approximately $1,616 annually in property taxes. With a mortgage, that figure rises to $1,941; without one, it drops to $1,313.

Appeal if you think you're overassessed

Given Sumter's elevated tax rate, it's worth investigating whether your home is fairly assessed. Many Georgia homeowners successfully appeal their assessments and recover overcharge refunds—a process that typically costs little but requires timely action.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Sumter County

via CostByCounty

Sumter's rent squeeze vs. America

Sumter County renters spend 24.3% of their income on rent, well above the national sweet spot of 18.6%. Households earning $41,877 annually face tighter housing costs than the typical American household making $74,755, putting affordability pressure on local renters.

Where Sumter ranks in Georgia

Sumter's 24.3% rent-to-income ratio ranks among Georgia's least affordable counties, significantly straining households compared to the state average of 18.6%. The median rent of $847 is actually below Georgia's $927 state average, but lower incomes make the burden proportionally heavier.

Sumter vs. neighboring counties

Sumter renters pay more of their paycheck for housing than residents in nearby Taliaferro (17.9%) and Tattnall (15.1%), despite comparable rent levels. Talbot County, with similar median rent ($950), imposes even higher rent stress at 25.3%.

How housing dollars divide

Sumter renters spend $847 monthly while owners pay $772, but the real story is income: renters lose nearly a quarter of earnings to housing, while owners spend 22.1% of income on mortgage and property costs. At $41,877 median household income, residents have less cushion for non-housing expenses than most Georgians.

Consider Sumter for affordability

If you're relocating to rural Georgia, Sumter offers modest rents and home values ($122,300) below state norms, though incomes are lower too. Prospective movers should compare job opportunities carefully—affordable housing matters little without stable, adequate income to match.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Sumter County

via IncomeByCounty

Sumter's income gap widens nationally

Sumter County's median household income of $41,877 falls 44% below the national median of $74,755, placing it in the bottom tier of U.S. counties. This significant gap reflects economic challenges that many rural Georgia counties face compared to national prosperity trends.

Below Georgia's county average

At $41,877, Sumter's median household income trails Georgia's county average of $60,488 by nearly $18,600. The county ranks among the lower-income counties statewide, though it remains part of Georgia's diverse economic landscape.

Similar challenges across rural Georgia

Sumter's income of $41,877 mirrors nearby counties like Taylor ($41,743) and Terrell ($43,812), suggesting a regional pattern of modest household earnings. All three counties share comparable economic structures, with median incomes hovering between $41,000 and $44,000.

Rent costs stretch household budgets

With a rent-to-income ratio of 24.3%, Sumter households spend about a quarter of their income on housing, near the national affordability threshold of 30%. The median home value of $122,300 remains accessible compared to national averages, offering ownership pathways for working families.

Build wealth through consistent saving

Sumter residents earning $41,877 annually can accelerate wealth-building by prioritizing emergency savings and low-cost index funds, even with modest monthly contributions. Starting early with retirement accounts—like IRAs or employer 401(k)s—compounds over time and creates financial resilience for families in rural economies.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Sumter County

via HealthByCounty

Sumter's life expectancy lags US average

At 72.0 years, Sumter County residents live about 5 years less than the U.S. average of 76.4 years. Nearly a quarter of the county (24.6%) reports poor or fair health, reflecting significant health challenges across the population.

Below Georgia's health outcomes

Sumter's 72.0-year life expectancy falls short of Georgia's 73.3-year state average. The county's uninsured rate of 14.3% performs slightly better than the state average of 15.0%, but health outcomes remain concerning.

Provider access stronger than peers

Sumter's 51 primary care providers per 100,000 residents outpace neighboring counties—Tattnall has just 17 per 100K. The county also offers 291 mental health providers per 100K, significantly more than most surrounding areas.

Healthcare access in daily reality

With 14.3% of residents uninsured, one in seven Sumter County residents lack health coverage. Despite decent provider numbers, the population's poor/fair health rate of 24.6% suggests barriers beyond just finding a doctor—affordability, chronic disease, or preventive care gaps may be at play.

Check your coverage options today

If you're among the 14.3% uninsured in Sumter County, health coverage is within reach. Visit healthcare.gov or Georgia's insurance marketplace to explore plans and subsidies designed for your income level.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Sumter County

via RiskByCounty

Sumter's risk ranks above average nationally

Sumter County scores 53.18 on the composite disaster risk scale, earning a Relatively Low rating but running significantly higher than Georgia's state average of 39.49. This places the county in elevated risk territory compared to most U.S. counties, driven primarily by hurricane and tornado exposure.

Among Georgia's riskier counties

Sumter ranks in the upper half of Georgia's 159 counties for overall disaster risk. With a composite score 35% above the state average, it faces notably higher natural hazard exposure than most neighboring counties in central Georgia.

Sumter faces steeper odds than neighbors

Sumter's 53.18 composite risk score substantially exceeds adjacent Talbot County (2.86) and Taylor County (10.15), making it one of the region's highest-risk areas. Only Tattnall County to the east approaches Sumter's risk profile with a score of 68.38.

Hurricanes and tornadoes dominate hazard profile

Hurricane risk reaches 80.93 in Sumter—well above the state average—while tornado risk sits at 65.43, creating a compound seasonal threat from Atlantic storms and spring severe weather. Wildfire exposure (64.50) and earthquake risk (63.96) also exceed state norms, though hurricanes pose the most imminent threat during Atlantic basin season.

Hurricane and wind coverage are essential

Sumter residents should prioritize comprehensive homeowners insurance with explicit hurricane and wind damage coverage, given the county's 80.93 hurricane risk score. Consider flood insurance as a separate policy, since standard homeowners policies exclude water damage—critical protection for a county where 53.50 flood risk is nearly double the state average.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.