What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wales has the most people working from home (22.2%).

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	Wales
People
Population	1,360Lowest	1,924Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME	35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%	11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Wales 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 28% below ME	$77,004±$5kHighest 3% above ME
	Wales 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 21% below ME	$250,400±$28kHighest 16% below ME
	Wales and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME	$1,154±$64Highest about the ME average
	Wales and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$2,578Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	83.3%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	25.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	28 minLowest 14% above ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wales 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	RSU 04
High school in town	None in town	Oak Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.