What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bangor has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bangor	Gardiner
People
Population	31,938Highest	6,088Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±1.3Lowest 8% below ME	42±3.6Highest 6% below ME
	Gardiner and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.7%±1.7Highest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bangor and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4%	19.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bangor and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	4.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,942±$7kLowest 20% below ME	$71,782±$10kHighest 4% below ME
	Gardiner and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME	$221,600±$19kHighest 25% below ME
	Gardiner and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,055±$43Lowest 7% below ME	$1,113±$191Highest about the ME average
	Gardiner and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,076Highest about the ME average	$2,742Lowest 10% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±6.5Highest ME: 48.4%	44.6%±13.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Bangor and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	68.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 23 yrs older than ME	1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 33% below ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	13.9%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Gardiner and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#37 of 133 in ME	#36 of 133 in ME
School district	Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4	RSU 11/MSAD 11
High school in town	Bangor High School	Gardiner Area High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.