What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).

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	Rochester
People
Population	1,360Lowest	1,389Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S.	53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S.
	Rochester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Appleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rochester 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S.	$72,676±$8kHighest 10% below U.S.
	Rochester 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±$33kLowest 29% below U.S.	$253,600±$81kHighest 24% below U.S.
	Rochester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S.	$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S.
	Appleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S.	$3,977Highest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	62.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Appleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rochester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.