1st Advantage MortgageAbout 67% of Sumter County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $33,310. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Sumter County
- How much Sumter County households make
- Renting and owning in Sumter County
- How Sumter County residents earn a living
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Sumter County
- More Sumter County figures
- Before borrowing in Sumter County
- Debt-to-income at Sumter County's medians
- A Sumter County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Sumter County
- More guides for Sumter County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Sumter County
With an estimated 11,878 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Sumter County ranks 60th of 67 in Alabama for population. Spread over 904 square miles, that works out to roughly 13.1 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Sumter County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 9 Census places inside Sumter County, Livingston leads by population with about 4,672; 7 of the 9 are incorporated.
How much Sumter County households make
Half of Sumter County households take in less than $33,310 a year and half take in more, 48% below the Alabama median of $63,999. Only 64 Alabama counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Sumter County | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 50.8% | +22.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.9% | -6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.9% | -11.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.4% | -5.3 pts |
Some 51% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 14% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 26.5% of Sumter County residents in poverty, against 15.6% across Alabama. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Sumter County median.
Renting and owning in Sumter County
A typical Sumter County rental runs $775 a month including utilities, which is 23% below Alabama. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 60% of renter households here. Home values center on $82,600, or 2.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 67% of homes. Median construction year: 1979.
| Sumter County | Alabama | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $775/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $82,600 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 30.8% | 12.3% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How Sumter County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 35% of employed Sumter County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 35% locally and 23% for Alabama. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 12.1% in Sumter County. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 9.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Sumter County workers | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 35.1% | +12.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -3.0 pts |
| Construction | 5.3% | -1.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Sumter County's, from 22 to 41 miles away. Lauderdale County leads the group on income ($50,817), Greene County trails ($29,200), and Sumter County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into Mississippi, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter County | - | $33,310 | $775/mo | 67% |
| Greene County, AL | 22 mi | $29,200 | $432/mo | 62% |
| Kemper County, MS | 27 mi | $46,431 | $677/mo | 79% |
| Lauderdale County, MS | 30 mi | $50,817 | $953/mo | 65% |
| Marengo County, AL | 34 mi | $43,825 | $716/mo | 70% |
| Hale County, AL | 35 mi | $39,250 | $715/mo | 74% |
| Noxubee County, MS | 41 mi | $33,833 | $677/mo | 73% |
The communities that make up Sumter County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 68% of Sumter County residents live in one of the 9. Live in one of these Sumter County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston | city | 4,672 | $24,236 | $584 | 1 mi |
| York | city | 2,056 | $30,489 | $763 | 9 mi |
| Cuba | town | 368 | $91,250 | $532 | 15 mi |
| Epes | town | 354 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Gainesville | town | 236 | n/a | $937 | 15 mi |
| Geiger | town | 174 | $38,750 | $825 | 20 mi |
| Bellamy | CDP | 158 | $53,011 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Panola | CDP | 69 | n/a | n/a | 24 mi |
| Emelle | town | 48 | $11,786 | n/a | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
More Sumter County figures
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 9% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Sumter County | Alabama | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.0% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.7% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 26.5% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 12.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Sumter County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
Before borrowing in Sumter County
A few patterns in the Sumter County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Manufactured homes. 31% of Sumter County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 26% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Renters under pressure. When 60% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Debt-to-income at Sumter County's medians
Sumter County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $2,776 before taxes
- 28% goes to median rent ($775)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $224 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $775, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
A Sumter County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Alabama license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Sumter County
Sumter County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Alabama State Banking Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Alabama guide.
More guides for Sumter County
For statewide rules and data, see the Alabama guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sumter County a high-income county?
Its $33,310 median ranks 65th of 67 Alabama counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Sumter County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $775 against $1,007 statewide, and 60% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Sumter County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Livingston, York, Cuba, Epes, Gainesville and 4 more.
Will a Sumter County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Alabama as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Sumter County check a lender's license?
With the Alabama State Banking Department. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.