Sumter Burlington-South Burlington

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Neutral — Depends on Priorities
Cost Index: 88.0 → 100.9
Rent Delta: +$864/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $22K higher median salary
  • + Lower violent crime rate
  • + Better student-teacher ratios

Cons of Moving

  • - 13% higher cost of living
  • - $864/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Sumter to Burlington-South Burlington shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 88.0 to 100.9 (100 = US average), so a Sumter salary needs to be multiplied by 1.15 to hold the same purchasing power in Burlington-South Burlington. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,276/month in Sumter to $2,140/month in Burlington-South Burlington - a higher monthly bill of $864, or $10,368/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $56,027 in Sumter versus $78,385 in Burlington-South Burlington - a raw gap of $22,358 higher. The Burlington-South Burlington labor market has 108,730 tracked jobs against 28,110 in Sumter, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Sumter and Burlington-South Burlington are 439 and 225 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.3:1 at origin versus 11.9:1 at destination. Our composite verdict - Neutral — Depends on Priorities - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Sumter
Burlington-South Burlington
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 88.0
RPP 100.9
Sumter
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,276/mo
$2,140/mo
Sumter
💼 Wages
$56,027
$78,385
Burlington-South Burlington
🔒 Crime
439 per 100K
225 per 100K
Burlington-South Burlington
🎓 Schools
14.3:1
11.9:1
Burlington-South Burlington
👶 Childcare
$7,732/yr
N/A
Tie
🌿 Environment
647 violations
1090 violations
Sumter

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Sumter to see what you'd need to earn in Burlington-South Burlington to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Burlington-South Burlington
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Burlington-South Burlington more expensive than Sumter?
Burlington-South Burlington has an RPP of 100.9 compared to Sumter's 88.0 (100 = national average). Burlington-South Burlington is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Burlington-South Burlington is $2,140/mo vs $1,276/mo in Sumter.
What are salaries like in Burlington-South Burlington compared to Sumter?
The median salary in Burlington-South Burlington is $78,385 compared to $56,027 in Sumter. That's a +$22,358 difference.
Is Burlington-South Burlington safer than Sumter?
The violent crime rate near Burlington-South Burlington is 225 per 100K vs 439 per 100K near Sumter (state-level data). Burlington-South Burlington has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Burlington-South Burlington to match my Sumter salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Sumter salary by 1.15. For example, a $75,000 salary in Sumter would need to be $86,017 in Burlington-South Burlington. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" means both metros are roughly equivalent across the 7 dimensions. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)