Fairfield, ME vs Gardiner, ME

Fairfield is moderately more affordable than Gardiner, with a 5.2% lower cost of living index. Fairfield scores 76 compared to 80 for Gardiner, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gardiner can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fairfield is $947/month compared to $927/month in Gardiner — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gardiner has cheaper rent, Fairfield actually has lower median home values ($140,200 vs $198,100).

Median household income in Fairfield is $50,718 compared to $58,152 in Gardiner (-12.8%). While Gardiner is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairfield spend roughly 22.4% of their income on rent, more than the 19.1% in Gardiner.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.1°F vs 46.1°F). Gardiner receives more rainfall at 41.8" per year compared to 41.8" in Fairfield.