Sanford, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Sanford, Alabama had a total population of 232, the 498th largest town in Alabama, with a median household income of $52,875, which is 17% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 25.0%.
Sanford Quick Facts
How Sanford Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 249 | 232 | No clear change (-6.8%) |
| Median household income | $41,922 | $52,875 | No clear change (+26.1%) |
| Median home value¹ | $90,211 | $218,300 | +142.0% |
| Median gross rent | $651 | $642 | No clear change (-1.4%) |
How Sanford Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 94.8%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 0.0%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 53 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 16.2%
- HS Diploma: 38.6%
- Some College: 14.5%
- Associate's: 14.5%
- Bachelor's: 15.1%
- Graduate+: 1.1%
Sanford Rankings in Alabama
Explore Alabama Rankings
Other Cities in Covington County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andalusia | 8,766 | $42,611 | 25.4% | $153,200 |
| Opp | 6,709 | $41,347 | 26.3% | $115,700 |
| Florala | 1,822 | N/A | 16.5% | $91,600 |
| Babbie | 790 | $63,611 | 8.0% | $181,300 |
| Red Level | 621 | $38,750 | 28.8% | $101,300 |
| River Falls | 403 | $35,104 | 9.4% | $99,300 |
| Lockhart | 359 | $33,750 | 14.2% | $68,300 |
| Carolina | 337 | $60,250 | 32.3% | $152,500 |
| Heath | 267 | $65,855 | 16.9% | $89,200 |
| Onycha | 238 | $47,639 | 28.6% | $55,000 |
Cities Similar to Sanford
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | 236 | N/A | N/A | 17.8% | 43.6% |
| Rockville | 223 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Boykin | 239 | $51,667 | N/A | 0.0% | 2.1% |
| Bakerhill | 244 | $55,114 | $94,200 | 14.9% | 21.6% |
| Sweet Water | 216 | $52,411 | $161,600 | 28.6% | 3.7% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 232, Sanford's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Sanford is a small community located in Alabama, within Covington County. The total population is 232. It ranks as the 498th most populous out of 592 Census-designated places in Alabama.
Age Demographics
The median age in Sanford is 50.2 years. This is 28% higher than the state median of 39.3 years. 16.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Sanford is $52,875. This is 17% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.0%. This is 60% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Sanford, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $218,300. Housing costs are 4% higher than the state median of $209,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 86.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 70.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Sanford has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.8% of all residents.
Education
16.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 28.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Sanford, Alabama is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Alabama state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 592 Census-designated places in Alabama. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Sanford, Alabama?
Sanford, Alabama has a population of 232 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Sanford, AL?
The median household income in Sanford is $52,875, which is 35% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Sanford, AL?
The poverty rate in Sanford is 25.0%. This means approximately 58 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Sanford, Alabama?
Sanford's population is 94.8% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Sanford, AL?
The median home value in Sanford is $218,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x.
How educated is Sanford, Alabama?
16.2% of adults (25+) in Sanford hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.