Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Sanford, ME

    Is Sanford a good place to live?

    Watch Sanford

    Sanford ranks #2 of 5 Maine cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (63/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.5% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $257,200
    +8.1% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,158
    per month
    Household income
    $70,570
    median
    Unemployment
    3.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Sanford

    The median home value in Sanford is $257,200 and median rent is $1,158 a month, against a median household income of $70,570. Homes cost about 3.6× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Sanford crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Maine the 2025 rate was 95 violent and 962 property crimes per 100,000 people — #48 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Sanford, ME

    Sanford has about 22,095 residents, 3.3% unemployment and 16% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Sanford with

    Sanford vs PortlandSanford vs LewistonSanford vs BangorSanford vs South Portland

    More: Where to move in Maine · Best counties in Maine

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report