Compare towns

Gardiner vs Ogunquit vs Otis vs Bucksport

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bucksport has the most kids (17.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureGardinerOgunquitOtisBucksport
People
Population
6,088Highest
1,379
705Lowest
5,016
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+0.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+0.4%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
42±3.6Lowest
6% below ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
54.7±3.1
22% above ME
42.7±12.2
5% below ME
Kids under 18
16.6%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.6%±7.8
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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
20.9%±8
ME: 22.4%
26.6%±7.7
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.8%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.8%
ME: 36.2%
27.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.8
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
0.6%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±2.3
ME: 5.8%
Ogunquit 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±$10k
4% below ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$101,250±$27k
35% above ME
$64,720±$21kLowest
13% below ME
Ogunquit and Otis 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
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$282,500±$23k
5% below ME
$252,300±$32k
15% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$191
about the ME average
—
$1,563±$734Highest
37% above ME
$882±$92Lowest
23% below ME
Otis and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,742
10% below ME
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$2,263
25% below ME
$2,021Lowest
33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±13.7
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
35.7%±100
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%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
7.8%
ME: 10.7%
6.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.5%
ME: 74.3%
74.3%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
33 yrs older than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1990Highest
13 yrs newer than ME
1975
2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
22% above ME
26 minLowest
7% above ME
42 minHighest
69% above ME
28 min
15% above ME
Work from home
13.9%±4.1
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
5.1%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.1%±5.9
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #36 of 133 in ME — — #68 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 11/MSAD 11 — Otis Public Schools RSU 25
High school in town Gardiner Area High School — None in town Bucksport High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Lowest
— —
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.