Sanford is a township in Grant County, Minnesota, home to about 133 people across 32 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56311 and 56531.
Homes sold for a median of $104 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Mostly Barrett; part is in Sanford
Mostly Elbow Lake; part is in Sanford
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Sanford. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Sanford’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Sanford well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)153 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Hector International Airport (FAR)77 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Minneapolis, MN148 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL501 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Sanford; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Sanford had 141 residents in the 2020 census, down 17% since 2000.
It’s the 2171st largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Grant County grew from 8,935 residents in 1900 to 6,074 in 2020.
Grant County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 81°F in summer, and winter lows average 0°F. About 27 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Fergus Falls, MN weather station (23 miles away).
1,533 jobs at 206 businesses in Grant County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
20 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Sanford’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 2 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 2 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 9 |
| Mental health providers | 1 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 2 |
| Pharmacies | 2 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 4 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by West Central Area. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central Area N. El.Elbow Lake | Pre-K–4 | 144 | Public | 1.1 mi |
| WCA Middle SchoolBarrett | 5–8 | 232 | Public | 5.7 mi |
| West Central Area ALPBarrett | 5–12 | — | Alternative Education | 5.7 mi |
| West Central Area SecondaryBarrett | 9–12 | 229 | Public | 5.7 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Sanford? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Elbow Lake, Barrett, Erdahl, Elk Lake, Pomme de Terre, Lien, Elbow Lake Township, Delaware, Stony Brook and Roseville Township (Grant County).
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.