Compare towns
Rupert vs Appleton vs Waltham vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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.
| Measure | Rupert | Appleton | Waltham | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
1,360Highest |
452 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7 49% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Rupert 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 | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.