The Town FilesSanford, Colorado
Town in Conejos County · population 879 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,700
- Household income
- $42,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 32.8
Sanford is a town of 879 people in Conejos County, Colorado. The median home is worth $171,700, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Colorado towns, better for a vacation home than 95% of Colorado towns, better for families than 82% of Colorado towns.
How Sanford ranks
Percentile among Colorado towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Colorado towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sanford is worth $171,700, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $42,143, which is more affordable than 80% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,012 a month. 73.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sanford | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,700 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,012 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $42,143 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 73.3% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sanford
| People | Sanford | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.3% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 29.1% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.1% | 92.9% |
Weather in Sanford
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 5.0°F. About 7.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.7 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 206 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sanford since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 31, 2021 about 2.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on June 5, 2010.
Severe weather in Conejos County since 1996
Conejos County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
| January 29, 1977 | Drought | EM-3025: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Conejos County
Conejos County had 1,648 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,310 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Sanford itself the ACS puts it at 11.2%.
Public schools in Sanford
2 public schools with 399 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford Elementary School | PK-6 | 235 | 18.1 |
| Sanford Junior/Senior High School | 7-12 | 164 | 14.9 |
Towns near Sanford
- La Jara, CO3.4 mi · 730 people · home $141,700
- Manassa, CO6.1 mi · 947 people · home $209,300
- Antonito, CO13.9 mi · 647 people · home $85,700
- Alamosa, CO15.1 mi · 9,806 people · home $225,200
- Alamosa East, CO15.5 mi · 1,453 people · home $264,400
- Monte Vista, CO26.1 mi · 4,247 people · home $224,500
- San Luis, CO26.6 mi · 598 people · home $98,800
Sanford questions
Is Sanford, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sanford scores better for retirees than 70% of Colorado towns and quieter than 61%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Sanford?
The median owner-occupied home in Sanford is valued at $171,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,143, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,012 a month.
What is the weather like in Sanford?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 5.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.8 inches of precipitation a year and 29.7 inches of snow.
Does Sanford get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sanford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 31, 2021. The typical Colorado town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)