How much does it cost to rent in Sanford, ME?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Sanford, ME is $1,681. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Sanford cheaper than other Maine cities?

Sanford is among the more affordable cities in Maine, ranking #18 out of 25 cities at $1,681/mo.

When was Sanford rent data last updated?

Sanford rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · ME

Sanford

Name: Average Rent Prices in Sanford, ME
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 22,247·18th most expensive in Maine·Rental market data updated monthly for Sanford, ME

Median rent (all units)

$1,681/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$284

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Sanford · $1,681

More affordable than 63% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

28% of income

AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,681/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$67,000/yr

Local median income

$72,524/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Sanford's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,070

1 BR

$1,210

2 BR

$1,490

3 BR

$1,970

4 BR+

$2,170

Research median

$1,490/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$20,172/yr

At $1,681/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Sanford, ME is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 24.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

22,247

Median income

$72,524

Median age

42.1

Renters

28.8%

Age distribution

19.3%

21%

23.1%

15.8%

20.8%

Under 1819.3%

18–3421%

35–5423.1%

55–6415.8%

65+20.8%

Gender

49%

51%

Male49%

Female51%

Race & ethnicity

89.5%

White89.5%

Black1.3%

Hispanic2.5%

Asian2.4%

Other4.4%

Education (25+)

32.8%

33.7%

24.8%

No HS diploma8.7%

HS diploma32.8%

Some college33.7%

Bachelor's+24.8%

Housing tenure

71.2%

28.8%

Owner71.2%

Renter28.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Sanford, ME has changed in 5 years

Income

$65,671 → $72,524

up 10.4%

Population

21,812 → 22,247

up 2.0%

Renter share

34% → 28.8%

-5.2 pts

Bachelor's+

22.2% → 24.8%

+2.6 pts

Median age

39.7 → 42.1

+2.4 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $72,524 today, compared with $65,671 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 21,812 to 22,247 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.0% change. About 28.8% of households rent today, against 34% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 22.2% to 24.8%.

Community

Discussions about Sanford

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View Sanford rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Sanford on your salary?

At $1,681/mo, how Sanford rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $87,866/yr · Rent = 23% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $62,384/yr · Rent = 32.3% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $71,861/yr · Rent = 28.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $128,442/yr · Rent = 15.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $164,117/yr · Rent = 12.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $58,413/yr · Rent = 34.5% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $52,740/yr · Rent = 38.2% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,007/yr · Rent = 31% income

stretched

By apartment size

Sanford rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Sanford. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Sanford

About renting in Sanford, ME

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Sanford is $1,681/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,070/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,490/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,210/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,970/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($72,524/yr), Sanford ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Sanford an affordable city for renters?

Sanford is considered affordable for renters. At $1,681/mo, rent takes approximately 28% of the local median household income ($72,524/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Sanford falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Sanford?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $67,000/year (~$32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,681/mo in Sanford. The local median household income is $72,524/yr, meaning the typical Sanford household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Sanford?

Rent in Sanford has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Sanford rent compare to other cities in Maine?

Sanford is one of the more affordable cities in Maine for rent, ranking #18 out of 25 tracked cities at $1,681/mo.

What percentage of Sanford residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 28.8% of Sanford households are renters, while 71.2% are owner-occupied. Sanford leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.