Sanford, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 44, 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 Virginia, within Accomack County. The total population is 44. It ranks as the 663rd most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sanford is 71.8 years. This is 84% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 25.0% 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 $61,250. This is 34% lower than the state median of $93,170. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Sanford. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. 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 $133,800. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $383,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Sanford is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 49% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Sanford was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 70.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sanford, Virginia 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 Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 681 Census-designated places in Virginia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.