Compare towns
Appleton vs Ira vs West Haven
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 youngest population (median age 49.2).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
West Haven has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
381 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
54±10.5 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and West Haven 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% |
17.5%±13.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| West Haven and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Ira 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% |
30.6%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% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Ira 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. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven 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±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and West Haven 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 | 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.