Compare towns
Pittston vs Danforth vs Union vs Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittston has the highest household income ($87k).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Gardiner has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Pittston | Danforth | Union | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,093 |
452Lowest |
2,663 |
6,088Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±5.9Lowest 8% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
42±3.6 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±7.4 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,614±$18kHighest 16% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$71,782±$10k 4% below ME |
| Pittston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,700±$66k 20% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$221,600±$19k 25% below ME |
| Union and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$593 5% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,113±$191 about the ME average |
| Union and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,909Lowest 37% below ME |
— | $3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,742 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±34.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
44.6%±13.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Pittston and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.9%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Union 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 | #123 of 133 in ME | — | — | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.