Compare towns
Appleton vs Jefferson vs Stoddard
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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,013Lowest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
53±4 36% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Stoddard 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% |
17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoddard 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% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Stoddard 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. |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$330,300±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Stoddard and Jefferson 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. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$895±$751 37% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
$4,316Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Stoddard School District |
| High school 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.