Compare towns
Washington vs Appleton vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Washington | Appleton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,360Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Washington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321 39% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington School District | 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.