Alfred vs Sanford
Alfred, Maine versus Sanford, Maine: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Alfred edges out Sanford on overall objective livability (53 vs 43 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Alfred | Sanford |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $40k | $72k |
| Cost of Living | $57k | $57k |
| Home Value | $322k | $238k |
| Monthly Rent | $717 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $233 | $6k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.18% | 1.49% |
| Income Tax | 7.10% | 7.10% |
| Sales Tax | 5.50% | 5.50% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 18.33% | 13.84% |
| Unemployment | 8.5% | 4.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 24°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 70°F | 70°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3 in | 51.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 80.9 in | 70.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 218 days | 174 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 84 days | 81 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 15.5 | 18.5 |
| Air Quality | 40 AQI | 40 AQI |
| School Quality | 57.0 | 77.6 |
| Violent Crime | 830/100k | 1649/100k |
| Property Crime | 1102/100k | 2397/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 850 | 21,986 |
| Median Age | 44.9 | 39.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.01 | 0.16 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.02 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | D+13 | D+13 |
| White (%) | 99.3% | 89.8% |
| Black (%) | 0.0% | 1.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 0.7% | 2.6% |
| Asian (%) | 0.0% | 1.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 0.0% | 4.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | — | 28 min |
| Walkability | 6.8/20 | 7.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 78 mi | 74 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 95.4% | 87.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 552.94 | 22.29 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Alfred or Sanford more affordable?
- Sanford has the lower cost of living: its index is $57k, compared with Alfred's $57k and Sanford's $57k. Median rent is $717 in Alfred versus $1k in Sanford.
- Is Alfred or Sanford safer?
- Alfred has the lower violent crime rate. Alfred reports 830/100k and Sanford reports 1649/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Alfred or Sanford?
- The median home value is $322k in Alfred and $238k in Sanford, so homes are more affordable in Sanford.