What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lovell has the most people working from home (21.8%).

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	Lovell
People
Population	1,360Highest	1,353Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME	52.2±3.5Highest 17% above ME
	Lovell 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%	15.4%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Lovell and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.5%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Lovell 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 ME: 36.2%	36.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Lovell 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	$80,625±$20kHighest 8% above ME
	Lovell 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±$33kLowest 21% below ME	$295,000±$47kHighest about the ME average
	Lovell and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME	$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$1,480Lowest 51% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	45.3%±29.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 23% above ME	31 minHighest 28% above ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Lovell 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	RSU 72/MSAD 72
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.