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CITY

Sanford

North Carolina · 34,138 residents (2025 est.) · 31.573 sq mi
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The short version

Sanford has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $57,586. Population has grown 36% since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $245,400. At a median age of 34.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 56%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
31,478
+36%since 2000
from 23,220 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
997 / sq mi
+36%since 2000
from 735 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.7
+5%since 2000
from 33.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:34,138 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K18K23K28K33K1990201020202024Sanford
202431K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$57,586
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,804 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,130
+65%since 2000
from $17,038 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.5%
+14.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.0%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.443
−4%since 2010
from 0.460 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$245,400
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,052
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $497 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
53.3%
−4.7 ptssince 2000
from 57.9% in 2000
46.7% rent
Vacancy rate
9.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.2%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 30.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 43.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.3
+72%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
48
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sanford on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic49.6%(11,511)
Black29%(6,741)
Hispanic / Latino19%(4,419)
Asian1.1%(246)
Other0%
Diversity Score78%(18,108)
2024
White, non-Hispanic41.8%(13,165)
Black23.1%(7,269)
Hispanic / Latino30%(9,459)
Asian0.9%(297)
Other4.1%(1,288)
Diversity Score85%(26,744)
Diversity Score
85
+9%since 2000
from 78 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.6%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
79.2%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 72.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.3 min
+43%since 2000
from 16.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 74.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.5%
−7.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.1%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% 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
5.7%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−7.1 ptssince 2011
from 11.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.5%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 65.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.6%
−29.0 ptssince 2009
from 58.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Female
50.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Foreign born
15.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−43.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2012
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
15.6%
−62.7 ptssince 2013
from 78.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
73.5%
+4.4 ptssince 2017
from 69.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
71.2%
−5.3 ptssince 2016
from 76.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
26.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2016
from 22.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Sanford to nearby cities

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SANFORD VS
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SANFORD VS
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SANFORD VS
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Home value$154,600−37%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sanford, North Carolina?

Sanford, North Carolina has about 31,478 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sanford, North Carolina?

The typical household in Sanford, North Carolina earns about $57,586 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sanford, North Carolina expensive?

In Sanford, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $245,400, and the typical rent is about $1,052 a month.

How educated are people in Sanford, North Carolina?

About 21.6% of adults age 25 and over in Sanford, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sanford, North Carolina?

About 22.0% of people in Sanford, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sanford, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Sanford, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 17,003 residents, a change of about 117 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 →