What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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	Wayne	Appleton
People
Population	1,101Lowest	1,360Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME
	Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Appleton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME
	Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME	$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME
	Appleton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Lowest 8% above ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 24% above ME	30 minLowest 23% above ME
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.