Compare towns
Appleton vs Ira vs Union vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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.
| Measure | Appleton | Ira | Union | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
381Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Ira and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Union and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Ira and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.