What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bangor has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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	Gardiner	Bangor
People
Population	6,088Lowest	31,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.6Highest 6% below ME	41±1.3Lowest 8% 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	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.7%±1.7Highest 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+	19.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	19.9%±1.9Highest 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+	29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	35.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,782±$10kHighest 4% below ME	$59,942±$7kLowest 20% 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	$221,600±$19kHighest 25% below ME	$219,600±$10kLowest 26% 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	$1,113±$191Highest about the ME average	$1,055±$43Lowest 7% below ME
	Gardiner and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,742Lowest 10% below ME	$3,076Highest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±13.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	51.5%±6.5Highest 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	10.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME	1954Highest 23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	17 minLowest 33% below ME
Work from home	13.9%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±2.5Lowest 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	#36 of 133 in ME	#37 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 11/MSAD 11	Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town	Gardiner Area High School	Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	13.3Highest
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.