Sanford, ME
Census place 2365725 · pop 22,247
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
17.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
28 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.32% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
24.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
89.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
35.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$72,524 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1307 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$280,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
24.9% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
9.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
10.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
84/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.42 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+5.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
108 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
71.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
34 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Sanford: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Sanford, ME a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Sanford scores 54/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is poor mental health. Maine overall ranks #13 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Sanford, ME?
- Sanford reports 108 violent crimes per 100k and 1307 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Sanford, ME expensive to live in?
- Sanford has a median home value of $280,200 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Sanford, ME?
- Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (19.4%) — 17/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Sanford, ME best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (34 AQI) — 91/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.