Sumter, SC vs West Columbia, SC

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricSumter, SCWest Columbia, SC
Population43,05317,963
Median Household Income$55,592$56,912
Median Rent$1,076/mo$1,201/mo
Median Home Value$199,100$201,700
Cost of Living (US = 100)8894
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income50.4%46.8%
Poverty Rate16.7%13.7%
Unemployment Rate5.8%3.8% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k710536
Property Crime Rate /100k2,7364,032
Median AQI——
Good AQI Days /yr——
Summer Highs89°F91°F
Winter Lows34°F36°F
Snowfall0 in/yr1 in/yr
Avg Commute19.6 min19.5 min
Hospitals12
Avg Hospital Rating3.0 / 53.0 / 5
Students per Teacher15.615.4
College Degree Rate28.7%40.9%
Foreign-Born %4.9%10.3%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-0.9%+5.9%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.