What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k median).

Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).

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	Gorham
People
Population	6,088Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.6Highest 6% below ME	39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME
	Gardiner and Gorham 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%	20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Gorham and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Gardiner and Gorham 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%	44.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,782±$10kLowest 4% below ME	$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$221,600±$19kLowest 25% below ME	$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,113±$191Lowest about the ME average	$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,742Lowest 10% below ME	$4,825Highest 59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±13.7Highest ME: 48.4%	37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Gardiner and Gorham 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%	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	81.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	27 minLowest 10% above ME
Work from home	13.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Gorham and Gardiner 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	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 11/MSAD 11	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Gardiner Area High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	12.9Highest
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.