Demographic Profile for Sumter County, South Carolina

The U.S. Census Bureau, in the year 2005, estimated a median age in Sumter County, South Carolina to be 35.3 years old. The median in Sumter is less than the median age in the State of South Carolina of 37.1. From 2000, the area has seen an increase in the median, when the median age was 33.5 years old. With a total of 27.4 percent of the population in the year 2005 being made up of individuals less than 18 years old, Sumter can be understood as having a relatively high percent of individuals under 18. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-low representation within the population, making up 60.5 percent of the population within the age group. People 65 and older make up 12.2 percent of the population. When compared to other counties in the United States, this represents a medium-low percent of the population.

Sumter County, South Carolina had an estimated population of 105,517 in the year 2005. The population has increased, since the 2000 total population of 104,706. This growth denotes an increase of 0.8 percent. Sumter ranks 25 of 46 counties in terms of population growth in South Carolina and the county ranks 1,187 of 3,141 counties in terms of population growth in the United States.

Estimated since the year 2000, a medium-low number of individuals have migrated to Sumter from outside the country. The immigration into Sumter makes up 1.1 percent of all immigration into South Carolina. This level of international migration can be considered medium-low when compared to international migration per 2005 population.

When calculating the total land area, Sumter covers a total land area of 665 square miles. This area has a medium-low average area density of 159 persons per square mile. Similar counties in the US, in terms of density, include: -- more densely populated -- Kankakee, IL (160 per sq. mile ), Oconee, GA (160 per sq. mile ), Dearborn, IN (161 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Leavenworth, KS (158 per sq. mile ), Flagler, FL (158 per sq. mile ), Putnam, WV (157 per sq. mile ).

Sumter County, South Carolina has a population that is made up of 48.4 percent White, 47.3 percent African American, 1 percent Asian, and 2 percent Hispanic. The area can be described as having a very high level of diversity, with 50.3 percent of the population made up of minorities. This is greater than the State of South Carolina percent of 33.4. Since 2000, Sumter has increased the percent of minority makeup when 49.3 percent of the total population were minorities.

Datasource: Population Estimates Program, U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Housing Report for Sumter County, South Carolina

In Sumter County, the census reported 43,977 housing units in the year 2005. This represents a growth in housing units, adding all together 1,680 homes since 2001, or 4 percent.

Sumter County is made up of a small, but present proportion of high-valued homes. In 2005, the American Community Survey reported that 0.5 percent of the homes were valued over $500,000.

The owner-occupied dwellings in Sumter County, South Carolina have small increases since their reported values in 2000. The values have increased by $7,400, or 9.4 percent, since 2000 when they were valued at $78,700.

It can be understood that there is a large amount of housing that is affordable in Sumter County, South Carolina. In 2005, 74.2 percent of the homes were valued under $125,000.

Throughout the State of South Carolina, Sumter County places 19 of 46 by percent in growth of new residential structures. The county places 1,069 of 3,141, comparing the percentage change in residential in other US counties.

Sumter County had an owner-occupied dwelling median in 2005 of $86,100, published by the American Community Survey. This home value is less than the overall State of South Carolina 2005 home median value of $113,100 and less than median home value of $167,500 across the nation during that year.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau