What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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.

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

Measure	Appleton	Peru
People
Population	1,360Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME	48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME
	Appleton and Peru 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%	20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Peru 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%	21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Peru 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%	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Peru 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	$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME
	Peru 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	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Peru 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%	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	29 minLowest 18% above ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	RSU 56
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.