What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).

Amherst has the highest household income ($73k).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Appleton	Amherst
People
Population	1,360Highest	424Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME	50.9±9.9Highest 14% above ME
	Amherst and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.3%±8.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Amherst and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%	24.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	31.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.8%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Amherst and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME	$72,656±$12kHighest about the ME average
	Amherst and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME	$210,200±$38kLowest 29% below ME
	Appleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82 3% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$1,527Lowest 50% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	50%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	27 minLowest 11% above ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	11%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Appleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.