What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bucksport has the most expensive homes ($252k 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.

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

Measure	Gardiner	Bucksport
People
Population	6,088Highest	5,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.6Lowest 6% below ME	42.7±12.2Highest 5% below ME
	Bucksport and Gardiner 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%	17.9%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Bucksport 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%	26.6%±7.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bucksport 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	27.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	2.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Gardiner and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,782±$10kHighest 4% below ME	$64,720±$21kLowest 13% below ME
	Gardiner and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$221,600±$19kLowest 25% below ME	$252,300±$32kHighest 15% below ME
	Bucksport and Gardiner 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	$882±$92Lowest 23% below ME
	Gardiner and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,742Highest 10% below ME	$2,021Lowest 33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±13.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	48.9%±17Highest 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	10.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	74.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME	1975Highest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	28 minLowest 15% above ME
Work from home	13.9%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Gardiner and Bucksport 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	#68 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 11/MSAD 11	RSU 25
High school in town	Gardiner Area High School	Bucksport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.