Population 5,315 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Sanford
Household size in South Sanford
| Period | South Sanford | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.43 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
South Sanford is a place of small households, averaging 2.28 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Maine as a whole looks much the same. Household size has dropped from 2.44 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in South Sanford
| Period | South Sanford | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.5 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.7 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.1 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.4 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 50.1, South Sanford is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.7, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in South Sanford
| Period | South Sanford | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.8% of households in South Sanford, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 6.6 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in South Sanford
Renters in South Sanford
| Period | South Sanford | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.8% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.1% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.5% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.6% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −10.3 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
South Sanford is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (43.0%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 10.3 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in South Sanford
| Period | South Sanford | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.0% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in South Sanford: 11.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Even so, the rate is lower than in Maine as a whole (16.4%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in South Sanford
| Period | South Sanford | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in South Sanford are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1981, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Maine as a whole, where the median home dates to 1975.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in South Sanford
| Period | South Sanford | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $757 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $657 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $795 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,199 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$442 | +$464 | +$606 |
A typical rental in South Sanford costs $1,199 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $442 a month since 2006–10, up 58%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.3% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in South Sanford
Bachelor's degrees in South Sanford
| Period | South Sanford | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.7% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.9% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.9% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in South Sanford than nationally: 26.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in South Sanford
| Period | South Sanford | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.5% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.5% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.5% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.6% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in South Sanford have finished high school (92.6%), above the national rate of 89.3%. Still, the rate is lower than in Maine overall (94.8%). The share with a diploma has risen 6.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in South Sanford
| Period | South Sanford | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in South Sanford has been strong: just 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
South Sanford compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Sanford | 2.28 | 50.1 | 3.8% | 14.6% | 11.5% | 1981 | $1,199 | 26.9% | 92.6% | 1.9% |
| Sanford | 2.36 | 40.0 | 12.7% | 38.1% | 4.8% | 1967 | $1,184 | 23.3% | 90.4% | 4.0% |
| Wells Branch | 2.21 | 60.3 | 2.0% | 1.2% | 5.6% | 1989 | $1,627 | 45.6% | 92.7% | 2.2% |
| Highpine | 2.62 | 41.8 | 8.1% | 8.5% | 16.2% | 1994 | $1,454 | 39.0% | 94.9% | 6.6% |
| Tatnic | 2.54 | 41.0 | 5.0% | 6.5% | 5.6% | 1990 | $1,266 | 30.1% | 97.1% | 4.5% |
| Alfred Mills | 2.42 | 50.1 | 7.8% | 7.4% | 16.2% | 1982 | $985 | 24.9% | 94.6% | 4.8% |
| North Berwick | 2.46 | 42.7 | 9.6% | 12.5% | 9.1% | 1976 | $1,165 | 29.8% | 96.3% | 3.1% |
| Springvale | 2.34 | 38.9 | 12.5% | 22.1% | 5.2% | 1966 | $1,289 | 31.3% | 94.6% | 2.6% |
| West Kennebunk | 2.47 | 43.1 | 8.6% | 11.0% | 2.2% | 1987 | $1,645 | 47.8% | 98.2% | 5.9% |
| East Lebanon | 2.43 | 39.7 | 8.1% | 3.7% | 6.8% | 1988 | $1,255 | 24.4% | 94.6% | 1.4% |
| Alfred | 2.49 | 49.4 | 8.9% | 10.7% | 13.0% | 1979 | $1,004 | 26.1% | 94.3% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Eagle Grove, IA · Dublin, TX · Dumas, AR · Duncanville, AL · Dundee, NY · Dundee, OH · Nichols Hills, OK · Dunean, SC · Duque, PR · Nikiski, AK
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up South Sanford. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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