1st Advantage MortgageIn Sumter County, Florida, the typical household earns $76,508 a year and the typical rent is $1,269. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Sumter County, FL: the basics
- How Sumter County residents earn a living
- What Sumter County households earn
- What it costs to live in Sumter County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Sumter County
- How Sumter County compares with nearby counties
- Room for a loan payment in Sumter County
- Sumter County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Sumter County
- Licensing and complaints for Sumter County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Sumter County, FL: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Sumter County's population at 143,408; only 33 of Florida's 67 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 557 square miles, that is close to 257 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Wildwood-The Villages, FL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 7 Census places inside Sumter County, The Villages leads by population with about 83,498; 5 of the 7 are incorporated.
How Sumter County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Sumter County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. Compared with Florida, the county leans toward construction (11% against 8%). The survey's unemployment rate for Sumter County averages 5.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home. 3.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Sumter County share | +/- vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.9% | -2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.0% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 10.6% | +2.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.8% | -0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Sumter County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Sumter County households earn
Half of Sumter County households take in less than $76,508 a year and half take in more, 3% above the Florida median of $74,568. Only 20 Florida counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Sumter County | Gap to Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.8% | -2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.0% | +1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -2.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Sumter County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.7%, 3 points lower than the state's 12.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.433 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Sumter County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Sumter County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,269 in Sumter County versus $1,669 statewide. 61% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 37% spend half or more. Home values center on $385,400, or 5.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 88%. Median construction year: 2006.
| Measure | Sumter County | Florida | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,269/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $385,400 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 88% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 61% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 35% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Sumter County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. 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?
Cities, towns and CDPs in Sumter County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Sumter County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 112,644 residents, leaving about 21% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $77,622 at the median in The Villages, $44,531 in Lake Panasoffkee. Live in one of these Sumter County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Villages | CDP | 83,498 | $77,622 | $1,397 | 14 mi |
| Wildwood | city | 17,608 | $76,552 | $1,519 | 7 mi |
| Lake Panasoffkee | CDP | 4,768 | $44,531 | $1,019 | 6 mi |
| Bushnell | city | 3,187 | $52,717 | $745 | 3 mi |
| Webster | city | 1,574 | $66,250 | $731 | 7 mi |
| Center Hill | city | 1,304 | $68,375 | $1,094 | 7 mi |
| Coleman | city | 705 | $54,063 | $957 | 6 mi |
How Sumter County compares with nearby counties
Lake County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Orange County, is 47 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Sumter County; Orange County is highest at $79,719 and Citrus County lowest at $56,546.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter County | - | $76,508 | $1,269/mo | 88% |
| Lake County, FL | 22 mi | $73,161 | $1,586/mo | 78% |
| Hernando County, FL | 30 mi | $66,058 | $1,298/mo | 83% |
| Citrus County, FL | 33 mi | $56,546 | $1,107/mo | 85% |
| Marion County, FL | 34 mi | $61,010 | $1,277/mo | 77% |
| Pasco County, FL | 39 mi | $70,492 | $1,505/mo | 76% |
| Orange County, FL | 47 mi | $79,719 | $1,775/mo | 57% |
Room for a loan payment in Sumter County
Sumter County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,376 a month: gross income for a household at the Sumter County median
- Median rent: $1,269, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,026 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 43% cap, $2,742 total minus rent leaves $1,473
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Sumter County residents: age, schooling, coverage
35% of Sumter County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Sumter County | Florida | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 68.5 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.3% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.1% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Sumter County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.0% |
| 60+ min | 13.1% |
Borrowing situations common in Sumter County
What the Sumter County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Sumter County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Older households. A 68.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Rent squeeze. 61% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Licensing and complaints for Sumter County
Sumter County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Florida guide.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Sumter County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Sumter County-area credit union.
- Verify the Florida license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Florida guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Sumter County earn?
The median is $76,508; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Sumter County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,269 against $1,669 statewide, and 61% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Sumter County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 88% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
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 The Villages, Wildwood, Lake Panasoffkee, Bushnell, Webster and 2 more.
Is the fit check different in Sumter County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.