Compare towns
West Gardiner vs Bowdoin vs Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Bowdoin has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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 | West Gardiner | Bowdoin | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,696 |
3,188Lowest |
6,088Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
42±3.6Lowest 6% below ME |
| Bowdoin and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Gardiner and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$71,782±$10kLowest 4% below ME |
| West Gardiner and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
$221,600±$19kLowest 25% below ME |
| West Gardiner and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,087±$150Lowest 5% below ME |
— | $1,113±$191Highest about the ME average |
| Gardiner and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,282Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$2,742 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.6%±13.7 ME: 48.4% |
| West Gardiner and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.9%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Gardiner and West 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 | #90 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | 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 Our Story | 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.