States › Maine › Gardiner

Is Gardiner, ME expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 22 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,39720% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$77,417about $6,451/month · 11% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$221,60033% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 64% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are long, about 30.1 minutes each way.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $55,880 a year. That is $27 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Maine cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Maine. It is number 16 of 34 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Gardiner
$1,397
Kennebunk
$1,618
Yarmouth
$1,916
Winslow
$1,143
Oak Hill
$1,923
Skowhegan
$991
North Windham
$1,377

How much do households earn in Gardiner?

Under $25k
16.3%
$25k–50k
23.9%
$50k–100k
31.4%
$100k–150k
21.0%
$150k+
4.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 25.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Gardiner

SizeGardinerU.S. average
1 bedroom$918$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,274$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,577$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Gardiner overall?

Everyday prices in Maine overall are 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
79
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
135
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Gardiner, so the Maine figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Gardiner

🏛️ Property tax$2,742a year · 1.24% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$144a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Gardiner

Commute to work30.1 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree29.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home68.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line10.5%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment7.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Gardiner?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $141 a month less.

Renting
$1,397
Owning
$1,538

Owning assumes a typical $221,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $22,160 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Gardiner, ME?

Renting in Gardiner costs a median of about $1,397 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Maine median is $1,452.

How much do I need to make to live in Gardiner?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $55,880 a year, or $27 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Gardiner cheap or expensive?

Gardiner is rated OK: rent takes 21.7% of the typical household income of $77,417. It ranks 16th cheapest of 34 Maine cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Gardiner?

The median homeowner in Gardiner pays $2,742 a year in property taxes, about 1.24% of the median home value.

Is Gardiner more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Maine are 3% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Gardiner?

The median home value in Gardiner is $221,600, about 2.9 times the typical yearly household income.

6,088 people live in Gardiner. Numbers are typical (middle) values.