Compare towns
Appleton vs Wallingford vs Whitingham
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%).
Wallingford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Wallingford | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,286Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Whitingham 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% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Wallingford 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% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Whitingham 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. |
$80,230±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Wallingford and Whitingham 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. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Wallingford 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. |
$891±$95 37% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Whitingham 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% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.