Living in Sanford, Maine
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Sanford · Census data 2020–2024
Sanford has 22,247 residents with a median age of 42.1. The median household income is $72,524 (about the same as the Maine median), the median home value is $280,200, the median rent is $1,152/month.
Sanford at a glance
- Population
- 22,247
- Median age
- 42.1State: 44.8
- Median household income
- $72,524State: $74,733
- Median home value
- $280,200State: $296,600
- Median rent
- $1,152/moState: $1,139
- Homeowners
- 71.2%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24.8%
- Average commute
- 28 min
Is Sanford a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 6% lower than the state median; unemployment of 3.7%; a poverty rate of 10.3%.
Cons: Median household income about the same as the Maine median; an average commute of 28 minutes.
The weather is best in June to September.
Cost of living in Sanford
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Sanford the median home value is $280,200, 16% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $1,152 per month, which is 28.6% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,747 a month in housing costs.
Sanford median household income
The median household income in Sanford is $72,524 and the income per person is $39,027. 10.3% of residents live below the poverty line (Maine: 10.7%).
Housing in Sanford: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 10,246
- Owner-occupied
- 71.2%
- Renter-occupied
- 28.8%
- Vacant
- 6%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1975
- Average household size
- 2.28
Sanford demographics
- Population
- 22,247
- Median age
- 42.1
- Under 18
- 19.3%
- 65 and older
- 20.8%
- Households
- 9,629
- Foreign-born
- 4.4%
- Veterans
- 9.1%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Sanford ›
Education in Sanford
24.8% of adults 25 and older in Sanford have a bachelor's degree or higher (Maine: 36.2%), and 7% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Sanford
- Unemployment rate
- 3.7%State: 3.8%
- Average commute
- 28 minState: 25 min
- Work from home
- 9.8%
- Drive alone
- 79.1%
- Public transit
- 1.7%
- Walk to work
- 1%
- Homes with broadband
- 89.9%
Sanford vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford | 22,247 | $72,524 | $280,200 | $1,152 |
| Alfred | 3,125 | $82,321 | $342,300 | $1,035 |
| North Berwick | 5,129 | $101,875 | $428,500 | $1,105 |
| Lyman | 4,612 | $87,284 | $360,400 | $1,063 |
| Lebanon | 6,629 | $97,750 | $324,800 | — |
| West Kennebunk | 1,395 | $124,167 | $554,100 | $1,602 |
| Berwick | 8,175 | $94,771 | $369,100 | $1,452 |
| Shapleigh | 2,976 | $88,140 | $356,000 | $1,349 |
| Wells | 11,713 | $88,024 | $485,300 | $1,350 |
More for people moving to Sanford
Sanford ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Sanford: FAQ
What is the median household income in Sanford, ME?
The median household income in Sanford is $72,524, about the same as the Maine median of $74,733 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Sanford?
The median home value in Sanford is $280,200, compared with $296,600 in Maine.
How much is rent in Sanford?
The median gross rent in Sanford is $1,152 per month, about 28.6% of household income.
Is Sanford, ME a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 6% lower than the state median; unemployment of 3.7%; a poverty rate of 10.3%. Minuses: median household income about the same as the Maine median; an average commute of 28 minutes.
What is the median age in Sanford?
The median age in Sanford is 42.1 years (Maine: 44.8).
How long is the commute in Sanford?
The average commute to work in Sanford is 28 minutes; 9.8% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Sanford?
The unemployment rate in Sanford is 3.7% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Sanford?
24.8% of adults in Sanford have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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