Gardiner, ME vs Orono, ME

Gardiner is moderately more affordable than Orono, with a 6.4% lower cost of living index. Gardiner scores 80 compared to 85 for Orono, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Orono can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Gardiner is $927/month compared to $1,150/month in Orono — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Gardiner is more affordable at $198,100 median vs $219,200.

Median household income in Gardiner is $58,152 compared to $56,890 in Orono (+2.2%). Gardiner 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, less than the 24.3% in Orono.

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