Compare towns
Appleton vs Liberty vs Wheelock
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%).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Liberty | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
969 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Wheelock and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Liberty and Wheelock 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% |
21.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock 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% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Wheelock 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. |
$71,146±$15kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20k 20% below U.S. |
| Liberty and Wheelock 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. |
$229,600±$31k 31% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Liberty 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. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| 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.