What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most kids (21.7% under 18).

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

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	Athens	Appleton
People
Population	791Lowest	1,360Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.7±7.2Lowest 6% above ME	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME
	Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Athens and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME	$53,618±$19kHighest 28% below ME
	Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME	$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,355Lowest 55% below ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Athens and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 18% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Public Schools	Appleton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.