What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Princeton has the most kids (28.2% 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.

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

Measure	Appleton	Princeton
People
Population	1,360Highest	866Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME	39.1±9.4Lowest 13% below ME
	Appleton and Princeton 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%	28.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%	19.7%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Princeton 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%	24.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	2.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Princeton 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	$56,406±$26kHighest 25% below ME
	Princeton 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	$120,800±$82kLowest 59% below ME
	Appleton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME	$675±$351Lowest 41% below ME
	Appleton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$1,573Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	57.7%±23.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Princeton 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%	15.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	22 minLowest 13% below ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	9.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Appleton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	Princeton Public Schools
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.