Gardiner, ME vs Waterville, ME

Gardiner, ME and Waterville, ME have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.4% difference in their overall index. Gardiner scores 80 while Waterville scores 79 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 $957/month in Waterville — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gardiner has cheaper rent, Waterville actually has lower median home values ($173,700 vs $198,100).

Median household income in Gardiner is $58,152 compared to $47,489 in Waterville (+22.5%). 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 Gardiner spend roughly 19.1% of their income on rent, less than the 24.2% in Waterville.

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