What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most people working from home (22.1%).

Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rockland	Gardiner
People
Population	7,035Highest	6,088Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±6Highest 10% above ME	42±3.6Lowest 6% below ME
	Rockland and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Gardiner and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%	19.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Rockland and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.1%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Gardiner and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,533±$6kLowest 24% below ME	$71,782±$10kHighest 4% below ME
	Gardiner and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,800±$38kHighest 17% below ME	$221,600±$19kLowest 25% below ME
	Rockland and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,092±$105Lowest 4% below ME	$1,113±$191Highest about the ME average
	Gardiner and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,059Highest 34% above ME	$2,742Lowest 10% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±15.3Highest ME: 48.4%	44.6%±13.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Rockland and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62%Lowest ME: 74.3%	68.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Highest 29 yrs older than ME	1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	12 minLowest 50% below ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9%	13.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Rockland 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	#96 of 133 in ME	#36 of 133 in ME
School district	Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13	RSU 11/MSAD 11
High school in town	Oceanside High School	Gardiner Area High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.