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Buying a home in Sumter County, South Carolina

The typical owner-occupied home in Sumter County is worth about $165,300, 36% below the South Carolina median of $259,000 and 50% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $881 a year in property taxes, about 0.53% of their home's value, higher than the South Carolina rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $56,693 a year, so the median home costs 2.9 times the median income (3.7 times for South Carolina). 68% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 51% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Sumter County at a glance

Sumter County South Carolina U.S.
Median home value $165,300 $259,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $881 $1,251 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.53% 0.48% 0.94%
Median household income $56,693 $69,324 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 68% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 51% 57% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,293 $1,529 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.8% 19.7% 21.0%
Median rent $1,057 $1,180 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.7% 31.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1987 1992 1980
Vacant homes 13.7% 13.3% 10.1%
Population 104,725 5,296,225 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Sumter County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Sumter County home of $165,300 with 20% down costs about $1,031 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,307, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $44,206 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Sumter County household income of $56,693; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $212,000.

The median rent here is $1,057 a month, a little more than the monthly cost of owning the median home with 20% down.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$33,060
Loan amount$132,240
Principal and interest$890
Property taxes (0.53% a year)$73
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$69
PMI$0
Total per month$1,031

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,786
Loan amount$162,306
Principal and interest$1,092
Property taxes (0.53% a year)$73
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$69
FHA mortgage insurance$73
Total per month$1,307

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Questions about home buying in Sumter County

What is the median home value in Sumter County?

About $165,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Sumter County?

Homeowners pay a median $881 a year, which is about 0.53% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Sumter County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,031 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $44,206 a year.

More about Sumter County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data