The Town FilesSanford, Maine
City in York County · population 21,982 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $280,200
- Household income
- $72,524
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 42.1
Sanford is a city of 21,982 people in York County, Maine. The median home is worth $280,200, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Maine towns, more vibrant than 93% of Maine towns, better transit than 93% of Maine towns.
How Sanford ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sanford is worth $280,200, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $72,524, which is more affordable than 36% of Maine towns. Median rent is $1,152 a month. 71.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sanford | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $280,200 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $1,152 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $72,524 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 71.2% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Sanford
| People | Sanford | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.8% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 90.0% |
Weather in Sanford
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 51.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.2 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sanford since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 10, 1966 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 19, 2015.
Severe weather in York County since 1996
York County has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4785: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| March 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4696: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 15, 2022 | Coastal Storm | DR-4647: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in York County
York County had 79,378 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,811 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Sanford itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Sanford
6 public schools with 3,263 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford High School | 9-12 | 1,099 | 16.4 |
| Sanford Middle School | 5-8 | 923 | 12.1 |
| Margaret Chase Smith | PK-4 | 439 | 12.5 |
| Carl J Lamb School | PK-4 | 424 | 10.1 |
| Sanford Pride Elementary School | PK-4 | 378 | 11.8 |
| Sanford Regional Technical Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Sanford
- Alfred, ME4.1 mi · 3,073 people · home $342,300
- North Berwick, ME5.1 mi · 4,978 people · home $428,500
- Lyman, ME7.6 mi · 4,525 people · home $360,400
- Lebanon, ME8.0 mi · 6,469 people · home $324,800
- Berwick, ME9.6 mi · 7,950 people · home $369,100
- Shapleigh, ME9.7 mi · 2,921 people · home $356,000
- Wells, ME10.0 mi · 11,314 people · home $485,300
- Kennebunk, ME10.7 mi · 11,536 people · home $487,700
Sanford questions
Is Sanford, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sanford scores better for retirees than 6% of Maine towns and quieter than 7%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Sanford?
The median owner-occupied home in Sanford is valued at $280,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,524, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,152 a month.
What is the weather like in Sanford?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.3 inches of precipitation a year and 62.2 inches of snow.
Does Sanford get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sanford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 10, 1966. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)