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CITY

Sanford

Maine · 22,663 residents (2025 est.) · 47.79 sq mi
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The short version

Sanford has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,524. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 12,114 residents. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $280,200.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 74%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
22,247
+120%since 2000
from 10,133 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
466 / sq mi
+106%since 2009
from 226 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.1
+16%since 2000
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:22,663 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8K12K16K20K24K1990201020202024Sanford
202422K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.8%(1,075)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(1,406)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.7%(1,035)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.6%(1,256)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.2%(718)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3415.7%(3,493)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.3%(2,726)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.8%(2,403)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.8%(3,514)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.1%(2,915)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.9%(1,321)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(385)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,524
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,881 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,027
+144%since 2000
from $16,002 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.5%
+28.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.3%
−7.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.421
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.423 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade15.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$280,200
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $88,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,152
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $497 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.2%
+18.7 ptssince 2000
from 52.6% in 2000
28.8% rent
Vacancy rate
6.0%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
31.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 30.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.7%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
−17%since 2009
from 4.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
71
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sanford on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.9%(9,619)
Black0.5%(52)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(130)
Asian1.9%(195)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.5%(19,691)
Black1.3%(297)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(546)
Asian2.4%(527)
Other5.3%(1,186)
Diversity Score
27
+36%since 2009
from 20 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican1.5%(329)
Mexican0.6%(131)
Cuban0.2%(42)
Spaniard0.1%(24)
Asian origin
Cambodian0.9%(193)
Vietnamese0.8%(175)
Filipino0.1%(25)
Asian Indian0.1%(18)
Japanese0.1%(13)
Thai0.1%(12)
Korean0%(8)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(22)
Samoan0%(9)
Ancestry
English17.5%(3,885)
Irish17.3%(3,840)
French15.2%(3,382)
French Canadian10.5%(2,342)
German8.2%(1,815)
American6.1%(1,359)
Scottish4.6%(1,013)
Italian3.7%(820)
Polish3.4%(752)
Swedish1.6%(355)
Scotch-Irish1.4%(307)
Canadian1.3%(282)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Greek1%(225)
Norwegian0.6%(138)
Portuguese0.6%(131)
British0.6%(128)
Lithuanian0.4%(90)
Arab0.3%(77)
Danish0.3%(75)
Dutch0.3%(70)
Welsh0.2%(55)
Lebanese0.2%(49)
West Indian0.2%(44)
Jamaican0.2%(44)
Czech0.2%(42)
Finnish0.2%(40)
Russian0.2%(34)
Egyptian0.1%(28)
Armenian0.1%(28)
Austrian0.1%(21)
Hungarian0.1%(21)
Belgian0.1%(16)
Swiss0%(6)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest French population · Largest French Canadian population · Largest German population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.8%
+15.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.3%
+15.4 ptssince 2000
from 75.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 2.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.1 min
+75%since 2000
from 16.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 77.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.8%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.9%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2011
from 63.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.4%
−26.8 ptssince 2009
from 59.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Foreign born
4.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.1%
−36.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 20.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.3%
−81.2 ptssince 2013
from 89.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.9%
+17.2 ptssince 2017
from 72.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2016
from 90.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married33.1%(3,000)
Married50.2%(4,552)
Widowed2%(183)
Divorced14.6%(1,327)
Women 15+
Never married27.6%(2,669)
Married46.1%(4,458)
Widowed8.6%(835)
Divorced17.7%(1,707)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Sanford to nearby cities

SANFORD VS
Somersworth
Income$74,504+3%
Home value$318,400+14%
Population12,171−46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Rochester
Income$80,836+11%
Home value$279,100same
Population33,716+49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Dover
Income$94,829+31%
Home value$436,700+56%
Population34,623+53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Biddeford
Income$72,333same
Home value$396,600+42%
Population22,399−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sanford, Maine?

Sanford, Maine has about 22,247 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sanford, Maine?

The typical household in Sanford, Maine earns about $72,524 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sanford, Maine expensive?

In Sanford, Maine, the median home is worth about $280,200, and the typical rent is about $1,152 a month.

How educated are people in Sanford, Maine?

About 24.8% of adults age 25 and over in Sanford, Maine hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sanford, Maine?

About 10.3% of people in Sanford, Maine live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sanford, Maine grown since 1990?

Yes, Sanford, Maine has grown since 1990. The population has added about 11,951 residents, a change of about 116 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →