What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monticello has the most affordable homes ($126k median).

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	Monticello	Appleton
People
Population	674Lowest	1,360Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.7±6Highest 18% above ME	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME
	Monticello and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Appleton and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Monticello and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,875±$13kLowest 31% below ME	$53,618±$19kHighest 28% below ME
	Appleton and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,800±$36kLowest 58% below ME	$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$833±$434Lowest 27% below ME	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME
	Appleton and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,200Lowest 60% below ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.5%±62.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	30 minLowest 23% above ME
Work from home	7.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Appleton and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Appleton Public Schools
High school 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.