Compare towns
Wheelock vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Wheelock | Mapleton | Appleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20k 20% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937 6% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None 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.