Compare towns
Randolph vs Appleton vs Randolph vs Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Gardiner has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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.
| Measure | Randolph | Appleton | Randolph | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,610 |
1,360Lowest |
1,610 |
6,088Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
42±3.6Lowest 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gardiner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Gardiner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,574±$16k 11% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$66,574±$16k 11% below ME |
$71,782±$10kHighest 4% below ME |
| Gardiner and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,300±$21kLowest 41% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$174,300±$21kLowest 41% below ME |
$221,600±$19k 25% below ME |
| Appleton and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME |
$1,113±$191 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,742 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.6%±13.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.5% ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 18 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.3%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.3%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.9%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Gardiner and Appleton 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 | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school 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.