$358,205Average Value$277Average Price per Sq Ft47Homes For Sale
Sanford’s mill history meets modern amenities
Beginning in 1867, textile mills were the backbone of Sanford’s economy, but in 1954, they shut down, and one-third of the population was out of work. The Maine community’s tribulations were detailed a year later in an NBC drama titled “The Town that Refused to Die” and in a 1965 Life magazine article under the same name. Today, the town’s resilient character remains, as many of these mills still stand, and a downtown factory is currently being developed into an apartment complex and commercial center. “The mills are really nostalgic for our town. Of course, they remind us of times we’ve struggled, but they’re viewed more as historical markers than anything else,” says Michael Patterson, a real estate agent with eXp Realty and a Sanford native. Aside from a growing downtown, Sanford residents can enjoy the area’s rural appeal, with ample locally owned farmstands and trails along the Mousam River, both easily accessible.
Sanford was once a giant in the textile industry.
Gateway Park offers a scenic overlook of the Mousam River dam and falls.
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Sanford is comprised of 1900s architecture and custom country estates
Dwellings closest to downtown Sanford are typically three-to-four-bedroom Queen Annes and bungalows from the early 1900s. Sitting on 5,000-square-foot lots, these homes feature alleyways or street parking. Homebuyers will find midcentury Cape Cod cottages and ranch styles farther from the city’s center. Colonial Revival farmhouses and custom-built country estates reside on parcels over 2 acres in the town’s rural outskirts. Buying in Sanford can cost anywhere between $300,000 and $650,000, a range lower than a Portland home’s average $500,000 selling price.
This classic Queen Ann home is in the Sanford.
Cape Cod style homes are common in Sanford.
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Students are in the Sanford School Department
Children in Sanford can attend Carl J. Lamb Elementary and Sanford Middle; both graded a C on Niche. The middle school has a robust STEM program with classes in engineering, 3D printing and more. Lastly, they may attend Sanford High School. Lending to its B-plus grade in sports, the school has an outdoor stadium, two gymnasiums and a fitness center, all constructed in 2018. Sanford Christian Academy on High Street is a private kindergarten through 12th grade option.
The entrance to Sanford High welcomes students in Sanford, Maine
Entrance to the Carl J. Lamb Elementary School in Springvale Maine
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Mousam River trails, a 1930s park and the Sanford Mainers baseball diamond
“The multi-trail system along Mousam River is really popular,” says Patterson. “It connects recreational places with residential areas and downtown Sanford.” Hikers can trek the historic walking path starting on Washington Street or head to Mousam Way South’s boardwalk route along Emery Street. Access to the 4-mile Mousam Way North Trail is at Sanford High School on Alumni Boulevard. The route passes the riverbank, the Riverside Cemetery and a kayak launch on School Street.
Picnickers can visit the 1930s stone gazebo at Gowen Memorial Park, a 20-acre green space with rolling terrain and Number One Pond access. Anglers can fish for largemouth bass, and kayakers can launch their boat from the small dock. A half-mile trek on the park’s trail leads to The Sanford Dog Park. Central Park is a pocket green space in the heart of downtown Sanford, and it hosts the Sanford Farmers Market every Saturday from May through October. Baseball fans can head to Goodall Park and watch the Sanford Mainers play other New England Collegiate Baseball League teams. In 1919, Babe Ruth hit his last home run with the Red Sox on this diamond.
The gazebo of Gowen Park is a great amenity in Sanford.
The Mousam Way Trail winds through Sanford.
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Local spots in downtown Sanford or farm fresh goods on the outskirts
With local spots like Wilbur G. Shaw Hardware and chains like the Hannaford grocery store, downtown Sanford has plenty of conveniences. Third Alarm Diner offers cozy digs, fried seafood, burgers and all-day breakfast. Foodies can also pick up Thai takeout from Mee-D or Vietnamese favorites from Pho Saigon. Outside of downtown, Shaw’s Ridge Farm is a popular summer destination for mini-golfing, barbecue platters and ice cream made with homegrown strawberries and lemons. Apple picking at McDougal Orchards on Hanson Ridge Road during the fall is another seasonal activity in Sanford. The eighth-generation farm also has a store filled with freshly made jellies, syrups and pickles.
Third Alarm Diner is a local favorite in Sanford.
Try the General Tso Shrimp at Pho Saigon in Sanford.
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Sanford residents are near Portland by car or bus
U.S. Route 202 runs through Sanford’s core, making Portland a 45-mile drive north. School Street is sprinkled with a few Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit bus stops, offering a route to Portland’s Casco Bay coastline. Less than 5 miles west, Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport doesn’t provide any commercial flights, but pilots in training can get plenty of practice here.
Welcome to Sanford.
Route 202 runs through Sanford.
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Written By
Tina Davis
Video By
Timothy Cerva
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Kristin Rofe,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Sanford, ME sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Sanford, ME over the last 12 months is $375,700, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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