Gardiner, ME vs Milford, ME

Gardiner, ME and Milford, ME have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.8% difference in their overall index. Gardiner scores 80 while Milford scores 76 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Gardiner is $927/month compared to $964/month in Milford — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gardiner has cheaper rent, Milford actually has lower median home values ($177,400 vs $198,100).

Median household income in Gardiner is $58,152 compared to $63,864 in Milford (-8.9%). Milford offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Gardiner spend roughly 19.1% of their income on rent, more than the 18.1% in Milford.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.1°F vs 43.2°F). Milford receives more rainfall at 44.4" per year compared to 41.8" in Gardiner.