What stands out worked out from the figures below

Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).

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	Perry	Appleton
People
Population	744Lowest	1,360Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.5±11.4Lowest about the ME average	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME
	Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,400±$13kLowest 34% below ME	$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME
	Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,104±$82 3% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,132Lowest 3% above ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 6% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Perry and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Perry 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.