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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Sanford Micro

Sanford, NC · 1 counties · 57,866 residents · 255.068 sq mi
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The short version

Sanford has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $44,120. Population has grown 18% since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $127,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 37.4
US median: 37.2
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
57,866
+18%since 2000
from 49,040 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
227 / sq mi
+18%since 2000
from 192 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
37.4
+4%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
39K46K54K61K68K1990201020202024Sanford
202466K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,120
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,900 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,061
+10%since 2000
from $19,147 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
25.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
15.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.419
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade26.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Information12%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade8.7%
US avg: 7.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 3.1%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 7%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2.4%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$127,800
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,500 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$621
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $497 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
44.9%
−26.8 ptssince 2000
from 71.7% in 2000
33.5% rent
Vacancy rate
11.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
25.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 38.7% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.9
+26%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic59.3%(34,321)
Black19.6%(11,369)
Hispanic / Latino18.3%(10,576)
Asian0.8%(475)
Other1.5%(876)
Diversity Score71.5%(41,391)
Diversity Score
72
+16%since 2000
from 62 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
80.7%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 76.3% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
5.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.2 min
+27%since 2000
from 17.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
78.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 79.5% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
15.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
0.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
8.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
27.8%
−32.8 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
51.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
11.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
12.2%
−35.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+50%
Home value$379,000+197%
Population67,141−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Bloomsburg
Income$64,644+47%
Home value$206,200+61%
Population66,193−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Auburn
Income$67,904+54%
Home value$171,000+34%
Population74,365+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Aberdeen
Income$64,414+46%
Home value$314,000+146%
Population78,144+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sanford, NC?

Sanford, NC has about 57,866 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sanford, NC?

The typical household in Sanford, NC earns about $44,120 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 $127,800, and the typical rent is about $621 a month.

How educated are people in Sanford, NC?

About 18.0% 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 15.0% 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 16,492 residents, a change of about 40 percent over that period.

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

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