Name: Sanford, ME
Rating: 0.0

( 10 Ratings )

Living in Sanford, ME

Ranks better than 80% of areas Follow

Population

21,166

Median Age

39.7 Years

Sanford Area Facts

Sanford has a Livability Score of 80_/100, which is considered exceptional
Sanford crime rates are 97% higher than the Maine average
Cost of living in Sanford is 3% higher than the Maine average

What do the locals think about Sanford?

38%

Family friendly

50%

Public transit is accessible

63%

Walkable to grocery stores

13%

Yards are well-kept

50%

Lots of parks

75%

Walkable to restaurants

Friendly neighbors

Safe at night

Pet friendly

Streets have sidewalks

50%

A quiet area

63%

Sense of community

Based on 8 votes from AreaVibes users. Take the poll

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Sanford Reviews

Write a review about Sanford Tell people what you like or don't like about Sanford…

Dirty town, but you can learn to live with it 2.5 rating By Anonymous ( Sep 13, 2021) I lived in Sanford for seven months (spring and summer). Their motto is “The Town That Refused To Die” and it kind of looks like it.

There are SOME pretty areas: Gowen Park, Gateway Park, that one flowerbed in the median that the garden club maintains… There is a tiny far ...Read More mer’s market in Goodall Park on Saturdays, a handful of nice independently owned restaurants, a fabulous ice cream shop next to Goodall Park, and a couple independent grocery stores (Jerry’s is the BOMB-dot-com). Residents can utilize BOTH the Sanford and Springvale libraries free of charge, which have separate collections, staff and amenities. There are many area churches active in the community. There is a great variety of food available to buy, and there are tons of activities in the surrounding area for every age and budget.

There IS a public transport system with a regular schedule to bus people to major points in town and to surrounding communities. It isn’t huge, but it’s functional.

Most of Sanford’s problems can be boiled down to two things: drug abuse and unsightly public areas.
A big part of the problem is the municipal trash policy: Sanford makes you pay for expensive city bags to throw your trash away, and recycling is free. Instead of encouraging people to recycle, it just encourages them to litter. (The library whacked their hedges because people kept dumping trash behind them).

No bins, so it is just unsightly (and sometimes ripped open) orange bags on the curb. The dustmen sometimes don’t pick up the recycling if you have a lid on the bin, so open bins get blown over and spill the contents. In the spring, trash blows down the street—one time I had a shoe box bounce off my windshield! Very few businesses have cigarette butt receptacles in front, and when I witnessed the thaw in March/April, every surface was covered in thousands of butts in various stages of decay. (They do not decompose completely!). I don’t think anyone gets cited for littering.

It is not pleasant to travel on foot. On the hot summer days it stinks like trash and dog poop; the streets are not swept regularly so dust and grit gets blown in your eyes if it hasn't rained lately; garbage, glass, or animal feces on the sidewalks is left for weeks; and the streets are not well lit at night, so those big cracks in the pavement can trip you right up. Uneven sidewalks get very icy. Few controlled crosswalks.

As far as crime, fortunately you only really need to worry about the crummy pavement in the dim lighting. Sanford has a drug problem, and a bunch of mental instability, but it’s the kind of place where if you ran on a porch bleeding and asked for help, they’d come out instead of slamming the door. Most of the crime is petty vandalism (someone threw a hammer through the library’s glass door a few months ago), theft, or drug-related crimes. Violent crime occurrences are relatively rare, but too frequent for a town of this size (again, usually drug related). Lock your doors, keep your valuables out of sight, don’t leave your laundry alone in the laundromat, but still smile and wave.

There isn't much to do IN Sanford, but you're in Vacationland! There are beautiful beaches, mountains, parks, shopping, museums, and a train to Boston 15 minutes to an hour away. One benefit to living in a crummy town is that the Massholes leave you alone. Read Less

Things to Do in Sanford, ME 2.5 rating By Anonymous ( May 14, 2018) If you'll be welcoming friends and family into Sanford soon, there are several activities you can take advantage of.

McDougal Orchards is a wonderful place to enjoy nature and there are lots of hiking trails as well. The farm on site also gives you access to local fruits and veg ...Read More etables. Pine Hollow Little Par Three Golf Course is another great place to visit if you want to enjoy a few games of golf and take in the scenery. Mountain View Golf Range is a great choice as well.

When you want to take the family out for a fun night, Bowl A Rama is the perfect choice. You can also enjoy the snack options available on site. You can also take your friends to a relaxing local retreat when you visit to Sanford Massage and Wellness. If you're looking for a more thrilling activity, you can pay a visit to Southern Maine Aviation to fly above the city and enjoy the view. Read Less

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