At a Glance
Median Income
$54,294
$28,775 per capita
Home Value
$222,000
Zillow: $288,740
Median Rent
$965/mo
30.1% of income on rent
Violent Crime
174/100K
2,475/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
22.4%
79.6% high school+
Unemployment
4.0%
16.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.8%
17.0% smoking rate
How Sanford Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Sanford's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Sanford a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.8 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Sanford residents earn a median household income of $54,294 , which is 28% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $28,775. The unemployment rate stands at 4.0% (11% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 16.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,866 business establishments, including 137 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Sanford is $222,000 , 21% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $288,740. Median rent is $965/month, with 30.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1984.
Safety & Crime
Sanford reports 174 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 54% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,475/100K. The murder rate is 6.1/100K.
Education
22.4% of adults in Sanford hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(34% below the national average).
79.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Sanford has an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C).
Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 46.9 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population30,833
Median Age34.9 yrs
Density929/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born14.5%
Veterans6.0%
Economy
B
Median Income$54,294
Per Capita$28,775
Unemployment4.0%
Poverty16.8%
County GDP$4,261M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,117
Housing
A
Home Value$222,000
Rent$965
Ownership52.0%
Zillow$288,740
Housing Units12,057
Rent Burden30.1%
Crime
F
Violent174/100K
Property2,475/100K
Murder6.1/100K
Assault125/100K
Burglary297/100K
Health
Obesity39.8%
Diabetes13.4%
Smoking17.0%
Heart Disease6.4%
Premature Death12,122/100K
Climate
Avg Temp61°F
Rain46.9 in/yr
Elevation404 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+22.4%
High School+79.6%
Graduate+5.9%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 58% / D 41%
Commute23 min
Broadband72.2%
Internet Speed162 Mbps
EV Stations6
Libraries2
Did You Know?
The median home in Sanford was built in 1984.
The nearest airport is Raleigh-Durham International (34 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.431 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
15.2% of the population has a disability.
14.5% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 162 Mbps.
There are 137 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 15 fatal vehicle crashes.