Compare towns
Appleton vs Middlesex vs Chapman
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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 | Middlesex | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,943Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Chapman 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Middlesex 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.