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Living in
Sanford.
About
Life in Sanford
Sanford is a community of 22,095 people in Maine. The median household income is $72,524, median rent runs about $1,158 per month, and median home values are around $280,200. Unemployment is low at 3.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Sanford at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Foreign-Born
4.4%
Broadband Internet
89.9%
of households
Population Growth
+3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.4% foreign-born, most often from Cambodia
Who lives in Sanford: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sanford, the largest foreign-born group is from Cambodia (22.5%), and 2.6% of residents speak French/Haitian at home.
Under 18
19.3%
of residents
65 and Older
20.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.1%
of households
Married Couples
42.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
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 ME
Rent, home values, and income in Sanford
In Sanford, home values are 6% below the ME average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,708
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $371,657 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for ME
Unemployment in Sanford
Unemployment in Sanford is close to the ME 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
Commute28.1 min avg
How Sanford residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sanford, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 mi
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM)
Regional airport · few flights91k passengers boarded in 2025
- 75 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M 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 42% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sanford runs 42% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
190
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,324.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sanford Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
81.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
York County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In York County, which includes Sanford, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 16 | Winter Storm | $45.4M |
| 2023 | 12 | Winter Storm | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 19 | Winter Storm | $15.5M |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.2M |
| 2020 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $322,000 |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $335,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $3.2M |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
York County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in York County, which includes Sanford, is typically good — 353 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
353
per year
Moderate Days
9
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
York County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sanford has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/30°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/54°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/36°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.3"
Annual Snowfall
70.1"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
156
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 10°F | 3.68" |
| Feb | 35°F | 11°F | 3.62" |
| Mar | 44°F | 20°F | 4.70" |
| Apr | 57°F | 30°F | 4.60" |
| May | 68°F | 41°F | 3.83" |
| Jun | 76°F | 51°F | 4.56" |
| Jul | 81°F | 56°F | 3.96" |
| Aug | 80°F | 55°F | 3.94" |
| Sep | 73°F | 47°F | 3.82" |
| Oct | 61°F | 36°F | 5.35" |
| Nov | 48°F | 27°F | 4.46" |
| Dec | 37°F | 17°F | 4.79" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sanford
Uninsured
8.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Sanford's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Frisbie Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.5 mi away · Rochester
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.
Education12.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sanford
Sanford's student/teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lowell National Historical Park, 61 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sanford
Sanford has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lowell National Historical Park (61 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
61 mi awaySalem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
63 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
67 mi awayFrances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
72 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
72 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
74 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
75 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sanford
Goodall Memorial Library
952 Main Street, Sanford
Springvale Public Library
443 Main Street, Springvale
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, Maine affordable?⌄
Sanford's median rent is $1,152/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $72,524/year. Median home value is $280,200.
Is Sanford, Maine safe?⌄
Sanford's violent crime rate was 190 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2324 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sanford, Maine?⌄
Sanford has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sanford, Maine?⌄
The cost of living in Sanford is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,152/month and median household income is $72,524/year. The median home value is $280,200. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sanford, Maine?⌄
The average commute in Sanford is 28 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