Compare towns
Appleton vs Union vs Warren 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 the most renters (17.4% rent).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Union | Warren | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,663Highest |
1,585 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.1±4.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Warren and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Strong 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% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren 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% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60%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% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Warren 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. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$86,905±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Warren and Union 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. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$569,300±$123kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,750±$394Highest 24% above U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Warren and Union 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. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$7,284Highest 134% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Warren 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.