The Town FilesSanford, New York
Town in Broome County · population 2,239 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,900
- Household income
- $76,724
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 48.7
Sanford is a town of 2,239 people in Broome County, New York. The median home is worth $140,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 96% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 80% of New York towns.
How Sanford ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sanford is worth $140,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $76,724, which is more affordable than 91% of New York towns. Median rent is $792 a month. 80.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sanford | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $792 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $76,724 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.9% | — |
Who lives in Sanford
| People | Sanford | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Sanford
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sanford since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1998 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 24, 2004.
Severe weather in Broome County since 1996
Broome County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2018 | Flood | DR-4397: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Broome County
Broome County had 82,881 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,392 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Sanford itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Towns near Sanford
- Deposit, NY4.2 mi · 1,387 people · home $118,500
- Deposit, NY6.4 mi · 1,427 people · home $111,000
- Windsor, NY7.5 mi · 907 people · home $138,800
- Windsor, NY9.3 mi · 5,804 people · home $182,800
- Afton, NY9.4 mi · 2,769 people · home $125,700
- Afton, NY9.5 mi · 794 people · home $115,600
- Harmony, PA9.6 mi · 508 people · home $112,500
- Lanesboro, PA9.8 mi · 508 people · home $112,200
Sanford questions
Is Sanford, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sanford scores better for retirees than 57% of New York towns and quieter than 96%. 28.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.7).
How much does a house cost in Sanford?
The median owner-occupied home in Sanford is valued at $140,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,724, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $792 a month.
What is the weather like in Sanford?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 64.8 inches of snow.
Does Sanford get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sanford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1998. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)