What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Farmingdale has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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	Farmingdale
People
Population	6,088Highest	3,017Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.6Lowest 6% below ME	45.8±5.7Highest about the ME average
	Farmingdale 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%	21.3%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Farmingdale 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%	22.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Farmingdale 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%	47.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.5%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Farmingdale and Gardiner 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	$71,635±$15kLowest 4% below ME
	Gardiner and Farmingdale 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	$249,700±$46kHighest 16% below ME
	Farmingdale 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	$911±$192Lowest 20% below ME
	Gardiner and Farmingdale 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	$2,574Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±13.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	58.6%±58.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Farmingdale 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%	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	65.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME	1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	13.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	28.4%±9.7Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#36 of 133 in ME	#21 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 11/MSAD 11	RSU 02
High school in town	Gardiner Area High School	Hall-Dale Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8	11.8
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.