Compare towns
Bucksport vs Gorham vs Ogunquit vs Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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.
| Measure | Bucksport | Gorham | Ogunquit | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,016 |
18,300Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±12.2 5% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42±3.6 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.6%±7.7 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,720±$21kLowest 13% below ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$71,782±$10k 4% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,300±$32k 15% below ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$221,600±$19kLowest 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $882±$92Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
— | $1,113±$191 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,021Lowest 33% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$2,742 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±17Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.6%±13.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Bucksport and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.9%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 25 | Gorham Public Schools | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Bucksport High School | Gorham High School | — | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.9 |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.