What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).

Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).

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	Effingham
People
Population	1,360Lowest	1,912Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S.	46.9±12.4Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Appleton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Effingham 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 U.S.: 17.2%	18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Appleton and Effingham 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 U.S.: 35.7%	20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Appleton and Effingham 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 34% below U.S.	$76,607±$14kHighest 5% below U.S.
	Effingham 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±$33kLowest 29% below U.S.	$322,700±$30kHighest 3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S.	$1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Appleton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S.	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Appleton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Effingham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.