Compare towns
Appleton vs Jefferson vs Randolph 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).
Jefferson has the most homeowners (90.5%).
Randolph has the highest household income ($102k).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Jefferson | Randolph | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,013 |
420Lowest |
1,249 |
| 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% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
57.5±10.9 48% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Randolph 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% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong 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% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Randolph 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% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph and Appleton 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. |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$101,750±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$407,000±$57kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Jefferson 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. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,667±$215Highest 18% above U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
$4,269Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±53.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Randolph 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph 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 | — | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.