Compare towns
Appleton vs Middlesex vs Washburn
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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 | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,943Highest |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7 24% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Washburn 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% |
21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Washburn and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 34% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6k 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% 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. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.