Compare towns
Union vs Ira vs Appleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Union | Ira | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
381Lowest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
| Ira and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Union and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Ira and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest 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 | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.