1st Advantage MortgageThe median Sumter County household earns $42,653, and 24% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Paychecks and income spread in Sumter County
- How Sumter County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Sumter County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Sumter County
- What a median Sumter County budget can carry
- Sumter County households compared
- Reading the Sumter County data as a borrower
- Lender oversight for Sumter County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Sumter County
Sumter County is home to about 29,061 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 65th most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Packed into 483 square miles, that is close to 60 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sumter County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Americus, with about 15,813 residents, or 54% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Sumter County
Sumter County households have a median income of $42,653 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 147th of 159 in Georgia.
| Yearly household income | Sumter County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.9% | +15.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.5% | -11.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -8.1 pts |
Some 38% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 19% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 23.7%, 10 points higher than the state's 13.4%. 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.
How Sumter County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Sumter County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 14% locally and 10% for Georgia. The survey's unemployment rate for Sumter County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). About 75% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Sumter County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | +3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.9% | +3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | -4.6 pts |
| Public administration | 6.0% | +1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Sumter County
Renters in Sumter County pay a median of $857 a month, 38% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $120,200, a typical Sumter County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 57%.
| Cost | Sumter County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $857/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $120,200 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 57% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.0% | 7.8% | n/a |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Lee County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Dooly County, is 24 miles off. Lee County leads the group on income ($89,168), Macon County trails ($41,031), and Sumter County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter County | - | $42,653 | $857/mo | 57% |
| Lee County, GA | 16 mi | $89,168 | $1,184/mo | 74% |
| Schley County, GA | 17 mi | $56,875 | $816/mo | 80% |
| Webster County, GA | 20 mi | $46,792 | $658/mo | 77% |
| Terrell County, GA | 23 mi | $46,171 | $745/mo | 62% |
| Macon County, GA | 24 mi | $41,031 | $655/mo | 65% |
| Dooly County, GA | 24 mi | $60,987 | $758/mo | 65% |
Places inside Sumter County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Sumter County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 17,403 residents, leaving about 40% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Leslie has the highest median household income on the list ($55,598) and Plains the lowest ($38,294), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Plains ($750) and steepest in Leslie ($838). Live in one of these Sumter County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Americus | city | 15,813 | $39,176 | $834 | 2 mi |
| Plains | city | 750 | $38,294 | $750 | 11 mi |
| Leslie | city | 510 | $55,598 | $838 | 9 mi |
| Andersonville | city | 231 | $29,107 | $875 | 11 mi |
| De Soto | city | 99 | $30,972 | $917 | 10 mi |
What a median Sumter County budget can carry
How much room does a median Sumter County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Sumter County: $3,554
- Less median rent of $857, which is 24% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $423 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $671: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Sumter County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Sumter County households compared
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. 14.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Sumter County | Georgia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.4% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.2% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.0% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.7% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Sumter County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Reading the Sumter County data as a borrower
Based on the Sumter County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 14% of Sumter County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Sumter County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 24% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Sumter County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Lender oversight for Sumter County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Sumter County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Sumter County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sumter County a high-income county?
Its $42,653 median ranks 147th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Sumter County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $857 against $1,393 statewide, and 50% 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 Americus, Plains, Leslie, Andersonville, De Soto.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Sumter County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Sumter County check a lender's license?
With the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.