Compare towns
Appleton vs Jackson vs Liberty
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Liberty has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
897Lowest |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Liberty and Appleton 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Jackson 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Liberty 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Jackson School District | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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 |
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.