Compare towns
Appleton vs Union vs Webster 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%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Webster has the highest household income ($107k).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Webster | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,663Highest |
2,227 |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Webster 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Webster 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% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest 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% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest 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%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Webster and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Webster 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Merrimack Valley School District | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.