City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Sanford, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Sanford - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

62,292
Residents
$62,877
Median income
$272,900
Median home
$1,972
Median rent (state)

Sanford - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Sanford places in the 40th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

40th
percentile, household income
60th
percentile, home value
82nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Sanford, FL

Sanford is a small city in Florida, home to 62,292 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Sanford brings in $62,877 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.1%. Typical homes in Sanford are valued around $272,900, and the median resident age is 36.8 years. About 26.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 63.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 642 residential building permits were authorized in Sanford (Building Boom), up 187% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 72.6°F with 54.0 inches of precipitation per year.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,972 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Florida, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Sanford workers runs 20.9 minutes, with 67.8% driving alone and 16.7% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 91.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

62,292 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$62,877 /yr

Poverty 11.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Sanford compare to other US cities?

Here's how Sanford stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 40% higher than other cities
Home value 60% pricier than other cities
Median rent 82% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Sanford's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Florida, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

40thIncome percentile

40th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sanford's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$272,900 40th percentile more affordable than 40% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sanford $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Sanford, FL Sanford, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sanford, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Sanford, FL median $62,877/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Sanford, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Sanford, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
62,292
Median Income
$62,877
Median Home Value
$272,900
Median Age
36.8
Poverty Rate
11.1%
Labor force participation
63.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.8%

Climate

Avg Temperature
72.6°F
Annual Precipitation
54.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
21
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
60,000 residents62,000 residents64,000 residents66,000 residents68,000 residents70,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 61,207 residents 67,483 residents ▲ +10.3%
Sanford's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
642
housing units authorized
Single-Family
222
detached homes
Multifamily
420
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
10.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 224
2020 356
2021 883
2022 1,143
2023 349
2024 642

Permit volume increased 187% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.9 minutes
Drive Alone
67.8%
Carpool
10.4%
Public Transit
1.6%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
16.7%
Other
2.5%

Based on 31,283 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sanford sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,972/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
91.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Horizon West
62,152 people
St. Cloud
61,963 people
Wellington
61,497 people
Palm Harbor
61,454 people
Jupiter
61,097 people
Port Orange
63,818 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sanford's 62,292 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

La Habra, CA
62,233 people
Hendersonville, TN
62,390 people
Taylor, MI
62,405 people
Huntersville, NC
62,458 people
Dearborn Heights, MI
62,099 people
Council Bluffs, IA
62,564 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sanford's $62,877 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hazel Park, MI
$62,878 median income
Park City, IL
$62,875 median income
Ryland Heights, KY
$62,875 median income
Minnesota Lake, MN
$62,875 median income
Ooltewah, TN
$62,875 median income
Trafford, PA
$62,874 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sanford, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Sanford, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 43.3% 26.3% 8.8% 16.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 27.4% White 43.3% Black or African American 26.3% Asian 4.7% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 8.8% Two or more races 16.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Sanford compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Sanford (this city) 62,292 $62,877
Horizon West 62,152 $123,586
St. Cloud 61,963 $76,196
Wellington 61,497 $110,294
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sanford, FL?

What is the population of Sanford, FL? +

Sanford, FL has a population of 62,292 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sanford, FL? +

Sanford households earn a median of $62,877 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sanford? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sanford; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Sanford, FL? +

A typical home in Sanford is worth $272,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Sanford? +

The average annual temperature in Sanford runs 72.6°F, 54.0 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.