Compare towns
Appleton vs Jay vs Strong 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Jay | Strong | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
471Lowest |
1,249 |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Liberty 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Strong 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. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Jay 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±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31k 31% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Jay 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. |
— | $920±$276 35% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,434 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
38 min 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None 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.