The Town FilesSanford, Florida
City in Seminole County · population 61,051 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $309,300
- Household income
- $66,891
- Jan low / Jul high
- 49° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 37.1
Sanford is a city of 61,051 people in Seminole County, Florida. The median home is worth $309,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better transit than 90% of Florida towns, better for young professionals than 81% of Florida towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of Florida towns.
How Sanford ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sanford is worth $309,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $66,891, which is more affordable than 49% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,609 a month. 52.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sanford | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,300 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,609 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $66,891 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 52.0% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Sanford
| People | Sanford | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.5% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.1% | — |
| Work from home | 19.5% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Sanford
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 49.2°F. About 54.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 109 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 3 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sanford since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 23, 1998 about 2.6 miles from the town center and killed 12. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 10, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 21, 2020.
Severe weather in Seminole County since 1996
Seminole County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Seminole County
Seminole County had 213,221 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,449 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Sanford itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Sanford
23 public schools with 15,673 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEMINOLE HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 3,919 | 21.4 |
| SANFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,375 | 17.6 |
| MILLENNIUM MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,338 | 16.3 |
| BENTLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 917 | 15.5 |
| GOLDSBORO ELEMENTARY MAGNET | PK-5 | 916 | 16.7 |
| WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 914 | 15.0 |
| MIDWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 804 | 15.5 |
| GALILEO SCHOOL FOR GIFTED LEARNING SKYWAY (charter) | PK-8 | 797 | 15.0 |
| IDYLLWILDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 794 | 15.0 |
| CROOMS ACADEMY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 9-12 | 764 | 21.2 |
| PINE CREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 671 | 12.4 |
| HAMILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 660 | 13.2 |
Towns near Sanford
- Lake Mary, FL4.1 mi · 16,798 people · home $494,900
- Heathrow, FL5.9 mi · 6,806 people · home $598,600
- Winter Springs, FL7.0 mi · 38,342 people · home $378,700
- DeBary, FL7.0 mi · 22,260 people · home $349,700
- Longwood, FL7.5 mi · 15,087 people · home $354,300
- Deltona, FL8.9 mi · 93,692 people · home $285,400
- Casselberry, FL9.3 mi · 28,794 people · home $299,200
- Orange City, FL10.2 mi · 12,632 people · home $259,100
Sanford questions
Is Sanford, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sanford scores better for retirees than 14% of Florida towns and quieter than 21%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Sanford?
The median owner-occupied home in Sanford is valued at $309,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,891, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,609 a month.
What is the weather like in Sanford?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 49.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Sanford get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sanford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 23, 1998. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- 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)