Compare towns
Appleton vs Middlesex vs Washburn vs Strong
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 highest household income ($110k).
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 | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,943Highest |
1,355 |
1,249Lowest |
| 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% |
-7.5% 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. |
47.5±8.9 22% 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% |
19.5%±3.5 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% |
22%±4.1 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% |
26.5% 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%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6k 30% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% 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. |
$183,900±$29k 45% 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. |
$920±$276 35% 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. |
$1,950 37% 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% |
20.9%±52.4 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%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% |
84.6% 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. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above 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% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.