Rents are 4% above what Sumter's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,530 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Sumter, SC is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 28.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Sumter, SC has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Sumter, SC paid around $1,050 a month. That figure now sits near $1,530, up 45.7% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $55,592 today, compared with $43,051 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has eased from 48.9% to 42.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 26.6% to 28.7% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Sumter on your salary?
At $1,530/mo, how Sumter rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Sumter rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Sumter. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Sumter
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Sumter is $1,530/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $860/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,257/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $977/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,513/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($55,592/yr), Sumter ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Sumter residents rent vs. own?
How does Sumter rent compare to the national average?
At $1,530/mo, rent takes ~33% of Sumter's median household income ($55,592/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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