MetricSanford, NCApex, NC
Population31,47870,630
Median Household Income$57,586$144,135
Median Rent$1,052/mo$1,902/mo
Median Home Value$245,400$576,100
Cost of Living (US = 100)—98
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income45.7%43.2%
Poverty Rate22%2.2%
Unemployment Rate4.2%3%
Violent Crime Rate /100k17253
Property Crime Rate /100k2,101801
Median AQI—43
Good AQI Days /yr—250
Summer Highs88°F87°F
Winter Lows32°F33°F
Snowfall2 in/yr5 in/yr
Avg Commute23.3 min25.2 min
Hospitals1—
Avg Hospital Rating2.0 / 5—
Students per Teacher14.617.1
College Degree Rate21.6%69.5%
Foreign-Born %15%20.3%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+13.1%+24.9%

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