Best Life Index › States › Maine › Cities › Sanford

Maine city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Sanford?

What it costs to live in Sanford, and how it compares with other Maine cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

64

2nd best value in Maine

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Maine cities.

Overall livability

44

9th overall in Maine

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Sanford is home to about 21,812 people. A typical home runs $201,900 and a household earns around $65,700, a price-to-income ratio of 3.1. Among Maine's largest cities, it ranks 2nd for value and 9th overall.

Sanford at a glance

Median home price

$201,900

1st in ME of 12

Median rent

$983/mo

Median household income

$65,700

Home price to income

3.1x

Unemployment

4.9%

8th in ME of 12

School rating

5/10

6th in ME of 12

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in ME of 12

Walk score

1/100

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‹ See all top Maine cities ranked  ยท  Maine state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Maine only. Updated 2026.