Compare towns
Gardiner vs Mapleton vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Gardiner | Mapleton | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,088Highest |
1,884 |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$10kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,600±$19k 33% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,742 12% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±13.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardiner and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardiner and Mapleton 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District |
| High school in town | Gardiner Area High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.