What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most people working from home (19.3%).

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	Madison	Appleton
People
Population	4,782Highest	1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME
	Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,747±$11kHighest 17% below ME	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME
	Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,600±$40kLowest 37% below ME	$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME
	Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME
	Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,983Lowest 35% below ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 59/MSAD 59	Appleton Public Schools
High school in town	Madison Jr/Sr High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0	—
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.