What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Livermore has the highest household income ($70k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Appleton	Livermore
People
Population	1,360Lowest	1,868Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME	51.4±3.5Highest 15% above ME
	Livermore 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 ME: 18.1%	17%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Livermore and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%	24.8%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Livermore 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 ME: 36.2%	21.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.5%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Livermore 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME	$70,441±$10kHighest 6% below ME
	Livermore and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME	$221,800±$23kLowest 25% below ME
	Appleton and Livermore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82 3% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$2,237Lowest 26% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	75%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Livermore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	27 minLowest 11% above ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	10.5%±7.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Appleton and Livermore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	RSU 73
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.