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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Sanford Micro

Sanford, NC · 1 counties · 70,258 residents (2025 est.) · 255.068 sq mi
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The short version

Sanford has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,387. Population has grown 34% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $240,200.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
65,816
+34%since 2000
from 49,040 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
258 / sq mi
+34%since 2000
from 192 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.5
+10%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:70,258 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
39K46K54K61K68K1990201020202024Sanford
202466K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,387
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,900 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,243
+68%since 2000
from $19,147 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.2%
+17.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.5%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.421
+1%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$240,200
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,017
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $497 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.3%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 71.7% in 2000
32.7% rent
Vacancy rate
7.4%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.3%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 38.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+60%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sanford on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic66.2%(32,467)
Black20.4%(9,982)
Hispanic / Latino11.7%(5,715)
Asian0.7%(323)
Other0%
Diversity Score61.9%(30,363)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic55.8%(36,695)
Black17.2%(11,333)
Hispanic / Latino21.7%(14,286)
Asian0.9%(579)
Other4.4%(2,923)
Diversity Score76.3%(50,212)
Segregation Score35.3%(23,222)
Diversity Score
76
+23%since 2000
from 62 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
35
−17%since 2020
from 42 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.3%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.9%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 76.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.8 min
+48%since 2000
from 17.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 79.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.6%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−6.7 ptssince 2011
from 10.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.8%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 65.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.9%
−27.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
9.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−40.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 14.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.2%
−68.8 ptssince 2013
from 81.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
78.1%
+4.4 ptssince 2017
from 73.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
79.4%
−2.4 ptssince 2016
from 81.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
18.7%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 16.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

SanfordCENTRAL34,138
What's inside

1 component county

Lee CountyCENTRAL70,258
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Sanford

Cedar City
Pop 67,141
Bloomsburg
Pop 66,193
Auburn
Pop 74,365
Aberdeen
Pop 78,144
Places similar to Sanford
Head to head

Compare Sanford side by side

SANFORD VS
Cedar City
Income$66,247+1%
Home value$379,000+58%
Population67,141−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Bloomsburg
Income$64,644−1%
Home value$206,200−14%
Population66,193−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Auburn
Income$67,904+4%
Home value$171,000−29%
Population74,365+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Aberdeen
Income$64,414−1%
Home value$314,000+31%
Population78,144+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sanford, NC?

Sanford, NC has about 65,816 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sanford, NC?

The typical household in Sanford, NC earns about $65,387 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sanford, NC expensive?

In Sanford, NC, the median home is worth about $240,200, and the typical rent is about $1,017 a month.

How educated are people in Sanford, NC?

About 21.3% of adults age 25 and over in Sanford, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sanford, NC?

About 16.5% of people in Sanford, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sanford, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Sanford, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 24,442 residents, a change of about 59 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →