What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Vernon has the most people working from home (28.3%).

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	Mount Vernon	Appleton
People
Population	1,716Highest	1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.1±6.2Lowest 5% above ME	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME
	Appleton and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mount Vernon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±1.5Highest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Mount Vernon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,395±$6kHighest about the ME average	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME
	Mount Vernon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$264,200±$23kHighest 11% below ME	$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME
	Mount Vernon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$893±$168Lowest 22% below ME	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME
	Appleton and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,832Lowest 7% below ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.9%±36.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 29% above ME	30 minLowest 23% above ME
Work from home	28.3%±11.6Highest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 38	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.