Compare towns
Gardiner vs Unity vs Ellsworth
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 the most people working from home (13.9%).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Unity | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,088 |
1,375Lowest |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
| Unity and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22k 27% below U.S. |
| Unity and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below 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 | $2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardiner and Unity 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 | — | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | Unity School District | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gardiner Area High School | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.