Sanford, ME Demographics

A map of Sanford's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	19,691	19,697	88.5%	89.6%
Multiracial	1,082	1,020	4.9%	4.6%
Hispanic	546	459	2.5%	2.1%
Asian	527	391	2.4%	1.8%
Black	297	278	1.3%	1.3%
Native American/Other	104	137	0.5%	0.6%

Sanford, Maine has an estimated population of 22,247, a slight increase from the 21,982 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 88.5% White, 4.9% Multiracial, 2.5% Hispanic, 2.4% Asian, 1.3% Black, and 0.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Sanford, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Sanford has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is more diverse than Maine overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Sanford, that probability was 19.4% in 2020 and 21.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Sanford is ranked the 7th most populous place in Maine, out of 155 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Sanford was ranked the 7th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Sanford's White Population

19,691 residents of Sanford, or 88.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Sanford is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 89.9% of the population is White. Sanford ranks 128th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 155 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sanford's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Sanford's population has decreased from 89.6% to 88.5%.

Sanford is more White than neighboring North Berwick (88.3% White). Sanford is less White than neighboring Alfred (100% White), West Kennebunk (93.4% White), Berwick (91.2% White), and South Berwick (90.6% White).

Sanford's Black Population

297 residents of Sanford, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Sanford is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 1.8% of the population is Black. Sanford ranks 30th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 155 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sanford's Black population has grown by an estimated 6.8%. Black residents' share of Sanford's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.3%.

Sanford is more Black than neighboring Alfred (0% Black), North Berwick (0% Black), West Kennebunk (0% Black), Berwick (0% Black), and South Berwick (0% Black).

Sanford's Asian Population

527 residents of Sanford, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Sanford is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 1.1% of the population is Asian. Sanford ranks 26th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 155 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sanford's Asian population has grown by an estimated 34.8%. Asian residents' share of Sanford's population has increased from 1.8% to 2.4%.

Sanford is more Asian than neighboring Alfred (0% Asian), North Berwick (0% Asian), West Kennebunk (1.9% Asian), and South Berwick (0.6% Asian). Sanford is less Asian than neighboring Berwick (4.2% Asian).

Sanford's Hispanic Population

546 residents of Sanford, or 2.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Sanford is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 2.2% of the population is Hispanic. Sanford ranks 42nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 155 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sanford's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 19.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Sanford's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.5%.

Sanford is more Hispanic than neighboring Alfred (0% Hispanic), and West Kennebunk (0% Hispanic). Sanford is less Hispanic than neighboring North Berwick (2.7% Hispanic), Berwick (3.3% Hispanic), and South Berwick (2.7% Hispanic).

Sanford's Native American/Other Population

104 residents of Sanford, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Sanford is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Sanford ranks 96th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 155 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sanford's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 24.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Sanford's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Sanford is more Native American/Other than neighboring Alfred (0% Native American/Other), North Berwick (0% Native American/Other), Berwick (0% Native American/Other), and South Berwick (0% Native American/Other). Sanford is less Native American/Other than neighboring West Kennebunk (3.5% Native American/Other).

Sanford's Multiracial Population

1,082 residents of Sanford, or 4.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Sanford is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 4.2% of the population is Multiracial. Sanford ranks 36th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 155 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sanford's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 6.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Sanford's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.9%.

Sanford is more Multiracial than neighboring Alfred (0% Multiracial), West Kennebunk (1.2% Multiracial), and Berwick (1.3% Multiracial). Sanford is less Multiracial than neighboring North Berwick (9% Multiracial), and South Berwick (6.1% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.