Compare towns
Appleton vs Sheffield vs Liberty
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%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Sheffield | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
573Lowest |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42±8 8% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Sheffield 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% |
17.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Liberty and Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield 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±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$58,333±$26k 28% below U.S. |
$71,146±$15kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Liberty and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31k 31% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Liberty 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. |
$967±$79 32% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$2,434 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Sheffield 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% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Liberty 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.