Livability Score

80
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities B+

There are some amenities close to this location.
Coffee (3) F
Aroma Joe's
Coffee Shop
Aroma Joe's
Coffee Shop
Aroma Joe's
Coffee Shop
Aroma Joe's
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (3) F
Bowl-A-Rama
Bowling Alley
Sanford-Springvale Historical Society
Museum
Smitty's Cinema
Cinema
Alfred Village Museum
Museum
Food and Drink (22) F
Moe's Italian Sandwiches
Fast Food
Dunkin' Donuts
Fast Food
The City Tobacco and Beverage
Beverages
Rosa's Deli
Deli
Domoino's
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Dairy Queen
Fast Food
Dunkin' Donuts
Fast Food
Shaw's Ridge Farm Ice Cream
Sweets
Subway
Fast Food
Kentucky Fried Chicken / Taco Bell
Fast Food
Springvale Publick House
Bar
Burger King
Fast Food
Wendy's
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Lil' General Store
Alcohol
McDonald's
Fast Food
Dunkin' Donuts
Fast Food
Fitness (8) A+
Preble Lodge #143 A.F. & A.M.
Community Centre
YMCA Trafton Center
Community Centre
Sanford ME Elks Lodge #1470
Community Centre
Family Martial Arts Center
Gym
AMVETS Post 3
Community Centre
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9935
Community Centre
Nasson Community Center and Liitle Theater
Community Centre
CrossFit 207
Gym
Groceries (8) B
Sleeper's Market
Grocery Store
Sanford Hannaford Supermarket
Grocery Store
Rogers Supa Dolla
Grocery Store
Jerry's Market
Grocery Store
Save-A-Lot
Grocery Store
Sanford Butcher Shop
Butcher
Shaw's
Grocery Store
Parks (30) A+
Soldiers and Sailors Park
Park
Gateway Park
Park
Benton Park
Park
Central Park
Park
Goodall Park
Park
Gowen Park
Park
Carpentier Park
Park
Blouin Fields
Park
Witham Street Fields
Park
Springvale Park
Park
Mousam Way Park
Park
Holdsworth Park
Park
Springvale Recreation Area
Park
Shops (42) A+
A Style For You
Hairdresser
Jeweler's Outlet
Fashion
Maine Street Depot
Convenience Store
Shaw's Hardware
Home Improvement
Family Dollar
Discount Store
Wears Bonnie
Clothing
Saundarya
Hairdresser
Central Furniture & Appliance
Furniture
Hairstyles Unlimited
Hairdresser
Dragon Star Creations
Gift Shop
Reflections Hair Sudio
Hairdresser
Cumberland Farms
Convenience Store
Big Apple Sanford
Convenience Store
Eastside Convenience
Convenience Store
Goodrich's Bicycle Shop
Bicycle
New Image Hair Salon
Hairdresser
Four Seasons Barber and Beauty Shop
Hairdresser
Aubuchon Hardware
Home Improvement
Springvale Gulf Express
Convenience Store
Landry's FUrniture Barns
Furniture
The Depot
Convenience Store
Yankee Cutters
Hairdresser
Circle K
Convenience Store
Springvale Flowers
Florist
Springvale Hardware
Home Improvement
See more Sanford amenity data

commute A+

Of all people who commute, 1.1% take public transportation in Sanford.
Public Transit Stops (18)
Stops & Stations
A+
Fluff-N-Puff
Bus Stop
Sunset Towers
Bus Stop
York County Community Action
Bus Stop
Trafton Senior Center
Bus Stop
Roger's Supa Dolla
Bus Stop
Green Tea
Bus Stop
East Side Store
Bus Stop
Medical Office Building
Bus Stop
Southern Maine Healthcare
Bus Stop
YMCA
Bus Stop
Advance Auto Parts
Bus Stop
Lifeworks
Bus Stop
Marden's
Bus Stop
21 Pleasant Street
Bus Stop
Nasson Health Care
Bus Stop
Maine Behavioral Healtcare
Bus Stop
Ocean State Job Lot
Bus Stop
Shaw's
Bus Stop
Workers Taking Public Transit
1.1%
F
See more Sanford commute data

cost of living B-

The cost of living in Sanford is 106/100 - which is 3% higher than Maine.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc.
D
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax
B
See more Sanford cost of living data

crime B-

Sanford crime rates are 2,599 per 100k, which is 97% higher than Maine
Property Crime
2,397 crimes per 100k
D-
Violent Crime
202 crimes per 100k
A-
See more Sanford crime data

employment C

The median income in Sanford is $58,294 - which is 15% higher than Maine.
Med. Household Income
$58,294
D+
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
C
See more Sanford employment data

health A+

There are some hospitals, police and fire stations.
Health & Safety (23)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc.
A+
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Planned Parenthood
Clinic
Sanford Regional Communications Center
Police
Sanford Police Department
Police
First Impressions Dental
Dentist
Children's Dentistry
Dentist
Sanford Fire Department Central Station
Fire Station
SMHC Medical Center Sanford
Hospital
Brink Chiropractic Clinic
Doctor
Dr John Beaudoin
Dentist
Associated Eye Care
Doctor
Greenwood Center
Nursing Home
Sanford Denture Clinic
Dentist
Springvale Fire Station
Fire Station
Maine Behavioral Healthcare
Doctor
Nasson Health Care
Doctor
Sanford Family Dental
Dentist
York Hospital in Sanford
Clinic
York Country Sheriff's Office
Police
Vetted Cannabis
Pharmacy
Air Quality
Median Air Quality
A-
See more Sanford health & safety data

housing A+

Sanford home prices are $193,100 - which is 10% higher than Maine
Home Price
$193,100
B
Home Appreciation Rate
15%
A
Home Affordability
3.3x (home price to income ratio)
B
See more Sanford housing data

schools C-

The Sanford graduation rate is 81% - which is 7% lower than Maine
School Test Scores
43%
F
High School Grad. Rates
81%
D+
Elementary Schools (9) C-
Lafayette School
Sanford Christian Academy
St Thomas Consolidated School
Sanford Jr High School
Sanford Middle School
Willard School
Sanford Regional Technical Center
Margaret Chase Smith Sch -Sanford
Carl J Lamb School
Alfred Elementary School
High Schools (2) F
Sanford Christian Academy
Sanford High School
See more Sanford education data

ratings D

Sanford has an overall rating of 55% from 10 reviews.
User Reviews (2)
From AreaVibes
D-
User Surveys (8)
From AreaVibes
C+
See more Sanford user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings
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( 10 Ratings )

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Sanford Reviews

Write a review about Sanford Tell people what you like or don't like about Sanford…
Dirty town, but you can learn to live with it 2.5 rating By Anonymous ( Sep 13, 2021) I lived in Sanford for seven months (spring and summer). Their motto is “The Town That Refused To Die” and it kind of looks like it.

There are SOME pretty areas: Gowen Park, Gateway Park, that one flowerbed in the median that the garden club maintains… There is a tiny far
...Read More mer’s market in Goodall Park on Saturdays, a handful of nice independently owned restaurants, a fabulous ice cream shop next to Goodall Park, and a couple independent grocery stores (Jerry’s is the BOMB-dot-com). Residents can utilize BOTH the Sanford and Springvale libraries free of charge, which have separate collections, staff and amenities. There are many area churches active in the community. There is a great variety of food available to buy, and there are tons of activities in the surrounding area for every age and budget.

There IS a public transport system with a regular schedule to bus people to major points in town and to surrounding communities. It isn’t huge, but it’s functional.

Most of Sanford’s problems can be boiled down to two things: drug abuse and unsightly public areas.
A big part of the problem is the municipal trash policy: Sanford makes you pay for expensive city bags to throw your trash away, and recycling is free. Instead of encouraging people to recycle, it just encourages them to litter. (The library whacked their hedges because people kept dumping trash behind them).

No bins, so it is just unsightly (and sometimes ripped open) orange bags on the curb. The dustmen sometimes don’t pick up the recycling if you have a lid on the bin, so open bins get blown over and spill the contents. In the spring, trash blows down the street—one time I had a shoe box bounce off my windshield! Very few businesses have cigarette butt receptacles in front, and when I witnessed the thaw in March/April, every surface was covered in thousands of butts in various stages of decay. (They do not decompose completely!). I don’t think anyone gets cited for littering.

It is not pleasant to travel on foot. On the hot summer days it stinks like trash and dog poop; the streets are not swept regularly so dust and grit gets blown in your eyes if it hasn't rained lately; garbage, glass, or animal feces on the sidewalks is left for weeks; and the streets are not well lit at night, so those big cracks in the pavement can trip you right up. Uneven sidewalks get very icy. Few controlled crosswalks.

As far as crime, fortunately you only really need to worry about the crummy pavement in the dim lighting. Sanford has a drug problem, and a bunch of mental instability, but it’s the kind of place where if you ran on a porch bleeding and asked for help, they’d come out instead of slamming the door. Most of the crime is petty vandalism (someone threw a hammer through the library’s glass door a few months ago), theft, or drug-related crimes. Violent crime occurrences are relatively rare, but too frequent for a town of this size (again, usually drug related). Lock your doors, keep your valuables out of sight, don’t leave your laundry alone in the laundromat, but still smile and wave.

There isn't much to do IN Sanford, but you're in Vacationland! There are beautiful beaches, mountains, parks, shopping, museums, and a train to Boston 15 minutes to an hour away. One benefit to living in a crummy town is that the Massholes leave you alone. Read Less
Things to Do in Sanford, ME 2.5 rating By Anonymous ( May 14, 2018) If you'll be welcoming friends and family into Sanford soon, there are several activities you can take advantage of.

McDougal Orchards is a wonderful place to enjoy nature and there are lots of hiking trails as well. The farm on site also gives you access to local fruits and veg
...Read More etables. Pine Hollow Little Par Three Golf Course is another great place to visit if you want to enjoy a few games of golf and take in the scenery. Mountain View Golf Range is a great choice as well.

When you want to take the family out for a fun night, Bowl A Rama is the perfect choice. You can also enjoy the snack options available on site. You can also take your friends to a relaxing local retreat when you visit to Sanford Massage and Wellness. If you're looking for a more thrilling activity, you can pay a visit to Southern Maine Aviation to fly above the city and enjoy the view. Read Less
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Sanford Awards

Compare Sanford, ME Livability

      vs

      B+ Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Sanford? Yes, there are some amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Soldiers and Sailors Park
      Gateway Park
      Benton Park
      Central Park
      Goodall Park
      Gowen Park
      Carpentier Park
      Blouin Fields

      Entertainment

      Bowl-A-Rama
      Sanford-Springvale Historical Society
      Smitty's Cinema
      Alfred Village Museum

      Food & Drink

      Moe's Italian Sandwiches
      Dunkin' Donuts
      The City Tobacco and Beverage
      Rosa's Deli
      Domoino's
      McDonald's
      Dairy Queen
      Dunkin' Donuts

      C Commute

      Is public transit available in Sanford? Of all people who commute, 1.1% take public transportation in Sanford.
      Drive to Work
      84%

      8% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      1%

      4% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      2%

      1% lower than the US average

      B- Health & Safety

      Is Sanford a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are some hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      SMHC Medical Center Sanford

      Pharmacies

      Walgreens
      Wisely Cannabis
      Vetted Cannabis

      Doctors

      Nasson Health Care
      Maine Behavioral Healthcare
      Associated Eye Care
      Brink Chiropractic Clinic