[5] Sanborn is located in northern Ashland County, along the shore of Lake Superior.

The town of La Pointe occupies the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior, to the north.

The Bad River flows south to north through the town, entering Lake Superior northeast of the community of Odanah.

U.S. Route 2 crosses the town, leading west to downtown Ashland and east to Ironwood, Michigan.

21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.