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Sanford, NC
City in Lee County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 27330.
Population
31,478
Land area
33.2sq mi
People per sq mi
949
ZIP codes
1
Sanford and its ZIP codes
Sanford at a glance
- Sanford is about 4.3 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 34th among 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- The median household income is $57,586, 20% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $245,400 (15% below North Carolina) and median rent is $1,052 a month.
Local data for Sanford, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes2
- Schools16
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks13
- Post Offices1
- Parks13
- Grocery Stores20
- Restaurants151
- Affordable Housing3
- Dialysis Centers2
- Community Health Centers3
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools1
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities3
- Historic Places7
Housing and community stats
Sanford, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$57,586
Poverty rate
22.0%
Median home value
$245,400
Median rent
$1,052/mo
Homeownership
53.3%
Bachelor's or higher
21.6%
Median age
34.7
Average commute
23.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (5,622), German Americans (2,047), Irish Americans (1,366).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lee County. PPP loans are for Sanford.
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Aug 2026, -0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$60,057
27,415 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,393
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$547M
FY 2026, $8,647 per person
PPP loans
$66.5M
786 loans, 8,513 jobs reported
How people get to work
Sanford, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.4%
- Carpooled12.5%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
- Worked from home8.1%
Average one-way commute: 23.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Sanford, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
304
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
126
0.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
90° / 31°F
46.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone7 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Sanford, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.7%
U.S. 33.3% +6.4 pts
Diabetes
14.1%
U.S. 12.1% +2.0 pts
Smoking
16.8%
U.S. 12.8% +4.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
17.8%
U.S. 11.1% +6.7 pts
ZIP codes in Sanford
1 in or overlapping Sanford. Population shown
Cities near Sanford
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| BroadwayTown | 6.8 mi | 1.3 |
| GulfCensus-designated place | 8.6 mi | 0.9 |
| CameronTown | 11 mi | 1.2 |
| MoncureCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 4.7 |
| GoldstonTown | 12 mi | 1.1 |
| BarbecueCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 5.7 |
| MamersCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 6 |
| Spout SpringsCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 10.4 |
| VassTown | 16 mi | 3.4 |
| PittsboroTown | 18 mi | 8.9 |
| Anderson CreekCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 20.2 |
| Whispering PinesVillage | 19 mi | 3.8 |
| CarthageTown | 20 mi | 6.8 |
| LillingtonTown | 21 mi | 7.7 |
| Spring LakeTown | 21 mi | 23.6 |
| BennettCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 3.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Sanford, NC in?
- Sanford is in Lee County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Sanford, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Sanford include 27330.
- What is the population of Sanford, NC?
- About 31,478 people live in Sanford, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Sanford?
- Nearby places include Broadway (6.8 mi), Gulf (8.6 mi), Cameron (11 mi), Moncure (12 mi), Goldston (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023