Appleton, WI
Census place 5502375 · pop 75,023
Boyhood hometown of escape artist Harry Houdini and home of Lawrence University.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.50 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.55% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+1.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
36.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
26.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
13.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$80,483 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
67.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$231,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
38.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
16.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
8.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
7.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
94.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
48/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,164/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.2% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Appleton: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Appleton, WI a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Appleton scores 67/100 — a C (Solid) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unemployment rate and its weakest is income inequality. Wisconsin overall ranks #7 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Appleton, WI expensive to live in?
- Appleton has a median home value of $231,400 and typical rent around $1,164/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Appleton, WI?
- Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.50) — 11/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Appleton, WI best at?
- Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.2%) — 99/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Boyhood hometown of escape artist Harry Houdini and home of Lawrence University.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.