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CITY

Sanford

Michigan · 761 residents (2025 est.) · 1.272 sq mi
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The short version

Sanford has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,000. Population has fallen 24% since 2000, a loss of 227 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $175,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
716
−24%since 2000
from 943 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
563 / sq mi
−24%since 2000
from 741 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.6
+11%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:761 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6827848859861K1990201020202024Sanford
2024716
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,000
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,063 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,639
+117%since 2000
from $20,599 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.9%
+22.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.411
−1%since 2010
from 0.414 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information15.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services0.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$175,600
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $95,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$950
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $473 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
83.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 83.2% in 2000
16.3% rent
Vacancy rate
9.4%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
10.6%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
67.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 70.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+6%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sanford on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.5%(919)
Black0.2%(2)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(13)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score4%(37)
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.6%(649)
Black1.5%(11)
Hispanic / Latino4.7%(34)
Asian0.4%(3)
Other2.7%(19)
Diversity Score21.9%(157)
Diversity Score
22
+453%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.6%
+15.7 ptssince 2000
from 23.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.8%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 89.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.7 min
+70%since 2000
from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
67.1%
−15.7 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.7%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
16.6%
+14.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.2%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−7.6 ptssince 2011
from 11.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.9%
+10.0 ptssince 2011
from 57.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.3%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
45.3%
−22.5 ptssince 2009
from 67.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
48.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−39.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.6%
+3.5 ptssince 2012
from 18.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.8%
−80.6 ptssince 2013
from 83.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.2%
+20.2 ptssince 2017
from 73.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 99.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Head to head

Compare Sanford to nearby cities

SANFORD VS
Midland
Income$73,325+8%
Home value$203,900+16%
Population42,806+5525%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Mount Pleasant
Income$44,706−34%
Home value$173,100−1%
Population20,925+2650%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Alma
Income$53,307−22%
Home value$115,900−34%
Population9,304+1123%
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SANFORD VS
Bay City
Income$49,420−27%
Home value$97,600−44%
Population31,868+4088%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sanford, Michigan?

Sanford, Michigan has about 716 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sanford, Michigan?

The typical household in Sanford, Michigan earns about $68,000 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sanford, Michigan expensive?

In Sanford, Michigan, the median home is worth about $175,600, and the typical rent is about $950 a month.

How educated are people in Sanford, Michigan?

About 39.6% of adults age 25 and over in Sanford, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sanford, Michigan?

About 9.5% of people in Sanford, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sanford, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Sanford, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 173 residents, a change of about -19 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 →

Sanford, Michigan: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy