City profile
Sanford, NC
Lee County · Population 31,478
Sanford is a town in Lee County, NC with about 31,478 residents and a typical home value near $245,000. It is 36 miles from Raleigh, NC, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Mild & temperate
Winter avg
43°F
Summer avg
79°F
Sunny days / yr
215
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$245,400
Typical monthly housing
$1,507
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
85
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.85%
- State income tax (top)
- 4.25%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 7.00%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Low · county score 68/100
Top hazards: Hurricane, Tornado, Ice storm
Nearest major airport
34 mi to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Republican · 41% Democratic / 58% Republican
Community
Population
31,478
Black population
23.6%
County
Lee County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸NC is gaining retirees — a sign of strong retiree services and community
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hurricanes (coast), inland flooding
Highlights
- About 31,478 residents
- Typical home value about $245,000
- 36 miles from Raleigh, NC
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.