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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS

Sanford Micro

Sanford, NC · 1 counties · 63,285 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 $52,294. Population has grown 29% since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $145,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
63,285
+29%since 2000
from 49,040 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
248 / sq mi
+29%since 2000
from 192 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
40.1
+12%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
39K46K54K61K68K1990201020202024Sanford
202466K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,294
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,900 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,502
+33%since 2000
from $19,147 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.3%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
16.3%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade22%
US avg: 10%
Information9.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade8.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$145,600
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$800
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $497 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
67.1%
−4.6 ptssince 2000
from 71.7% in 2000
32.9% rent
Afford Score
2.8
+21%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic57%(36,055)
Black16.9%(10,701)
Hispanic / Latino20.7%(13,122)
Asian1%(643)
Other2.3%(1,447)
Diversity Score73.3%(46,369)
Segregation Score42.4%(26,842)
Diversity Score
73
+18%since 2000
from 62 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.5%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
85.1%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 76.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.5 min
+52%since 2000
from 17.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.9%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
61.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 65.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
30.3%
−30.3 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
9.3%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
13.1%
−67.9 ptssince 2013
from 81.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+27%
Home value$379,000+160%
Population67,141−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Bloomsburg
Income$64,644+24%
Home value$206,200+42%
Population66,193−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Auburn
Income$67,904+30%
Home value$171,000+17%
Population74,365+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANFORD VS
Aberdeen
Income$64,414+23%
Home value$314,000+116%
Population78,144+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sanford, NC?

Sanford, NC has about 63,285 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sanford, NC?

The typical household in Sanford, NC earns about $52,294 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 $145,600, and the typical rent is about $800 a month.

How educated are people in Sanford, NC?

About 20.5% 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 16.3% 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 21,911 residents, a change of about 53 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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