Compare towns
Appleton vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Reading | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
699Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Reading and Appleton 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Reading 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±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 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 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None 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.