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Living in
Sanford.
About
Life in Sanford
Living in Sanford means embracing a Central Florida lifestyle that's more grounded than Orlando but still connected to the region's tourism and business activity. The cost of living is moderate—median home values around $309,000 and rents averaging $1,609 monthly—making it reasonably accessible compared to nearby areas, though you'll notice prices have climbed in recent years with steady population growth. The job market is solid with low unemployment, and your commute to Orlando or other regional employment centers typically runs 25 minutes, though I-4 traffic can be unpredictable.
Sanford at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Foreign-Born
17.1%
Broadband Internet
92.2%
of households
Population Growth
+10.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.1% foreign-born, most often from Venezuela
Who lives in Sanford: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sanford, the largest foreign-born group is from Venezuela (12.8%), and 21.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
13.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.4%
of households
Married Couples
38.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.51
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for FL
Rent, home values, and income in Sanford
In Sanford, home values are 14% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,913
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $339,925 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Sanford and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Sanford is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Sanford Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area
Commute25 min avg
How Sanford residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sanford, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 26 mi
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Major hub28.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 61% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sanford runs 61% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
530.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,970.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sanford Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Seminole County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Seminole County, which includes Sanford, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.5M |
| 2024 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30.0M |
| 2023 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,800 |
| 2022 | 12 | Hail | $241.0M |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,500 |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.4M |
| 2018 | 5 | Hail | $5,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Seminole County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Seminole County, which includes Sanford, is typically good — 307 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
307
per year
Moderate Days
56
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Seminole County, county-wide
Climate92°F summers, 51°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sanford has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and warm winters (avg low 51°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
83°/61°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
84°/66°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
73°/51°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
115
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
2
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 50°F | 2.36" |
| Feb | 74°F | 52°F | 2.25" |
| Mar | 78°F | 56°F | 2.85" |
| Apr | 83°F | 61°F | 2.35" |
| May | 89°F | 67°F | 3.31" |
| Jun | 91°F | 73°F | 8.19" |
| Jul | 93°F | 74°F | 7.29" |
| Aug | 93°F | 75°F | 6.77" |
| Sep | 90°F | 73°F | 6.24" |
| Oct | 85°F | 67°F | 3.90" |
| Nov | 78°F | 58°F | 1.88" |
| Dec | 73°F | 53°F | 2.24" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sanford
Sanford has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
12.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Central Florida Lake Monroe Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventhealth Fish Memorial
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.8 mi away · Orange City
Oviedo Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Oviedo
Halifax Health /uf Health Medical Center of Delton
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.1 mi away · Deltona
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sanford
Sanford's student/teacher ratio is 17.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 29.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
17
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sanford (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 59,146 students · in-state tuition $6,368 · 73% graduate · median earnings $63,483 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,631 students · in-state tuition $62,950 · 75% graduate · median earnings $64,156 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 714 students · in-state tuition $13,820 · 48% graduate · median earnings $44,255 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Canaveral National Seashore, 32 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sanford
Sanford has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Canaveral National Seashore (32 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Canaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
32 mi awayFort Matanzas National Monument
National Monument
64 mi awayCastillo de San Marcos National Monument
National Monument
77 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sanford
North Branch Library
150 N. Palmetto Ave., Sanford
Cities Near Sanford
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sanford?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sanford FAQ
Is Sanford, Florida affordable?⌄
Sanford's median rent is $1,609/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $66,891/year. Median home value is $309,300.
Is Sanford, Florida safe?⌄
Sanford's violent crime rate was 530 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1970 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sanford, Florida?⌄
Sanford has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sanford, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Sanford is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,609/month and median household income is $66,891/year. The median home value is $309,300. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sanford, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Sanford is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from