Sumter County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Sumter County is located in Alabama with a total population of 12,020. It is the 60th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sumter County is 34.9 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sumter County is $37,981. This is 39% lower than the state median of $62,027. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 52% lower. The poverty rate stands at 28.1%. This is 80% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 8.6%. This is 78% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $84,100. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $195,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Sumter County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sumter County is Black or African American, making up 71.1% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 25.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (25.4%) is well below the state average of 63.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (71.1% vs 25.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.4%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

19.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 27.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.9%.