19082007Appleton, Minn. Pomme de Terre river scene. Drag to compare. · Library of Congress
Appleton’s story
Appleton in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
AppletonMN
A town of 1,393. Safer than 94% of U.S. towns.
Photo: Jake DeGroot · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,393
−1.4% since 2010
Median home value
$77K
Census ACS
Household income
$44K
median
Median age
46.5
years
Jobs based here
495
Balanced
What makes Appleton stand out
The 3 things Appleton does most differently from other towns.
100 U.S. towns● Appleton
Safety
Safer than 94%
of U.S. towns we grade
Safety Grade A. FBI data, crimes reported to police.
100 U.S. towns● Appleton
Health
69% of U.S. towns are healthier
on CDC estimates
Better than MN on 1 measures, worse on 18.
1908 · The old millHistory
6 archive photos & papers
1 place on the National Register
6 archive photos, postcards and papers.
Small town
1,393 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Appleton’s report card
Now in Appleton
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Appleton? Is an A for safety right?
Your answer becomes a post in Appleton’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →65°
Cloudy
H 70° · L 55°
Local news
All →- Sujin Corbett to be sentenced in Appleton police-shooting incidentWillmar Radio · Sep 28
- Audacy News: Appleton, MN set to open new ICE facilityAudacy · Sep 10
- Appleton, Minnesota has finalized a deal with a private prison company for a new ICE detention centerAudacy · Sep 10
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Appleton. Another town gets a different order.
Safety
Less crime per resident than 94% of U.S. towns
Appleton reports less crime per resident than 94% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
ASafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Appleton0.7
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Appleton0.7
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
94th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
88th
percentile among MN towns
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
1
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Health
Healthier than 31% of U.S. towns
Appleton beats the Minnesota average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 18.
CHealth Grade
32 measures vs. Minnesota
1 better13 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Appleton | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.5% | 76.1% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.4% | 5.4% |
Appleton Area Health
0.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
4th
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 29% of U.S. communities.
29risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesHeat waves
2
paid flood claims since 1997
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Appleton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 51 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
51″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter7–25°
Spring33–55°
Summer59–81°
Fall36–58°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
About one in three working residents works right in Appleton
About one in 3 of Appleton’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Montevideo (5%), Morris (5%) and Hantho (5%). Half commute less than 22 miles.
30%work in town
Where working residents work
In Appleton30%
Montevideo5%
Morris5%
Hantho5%
Willmar4%
22 mi
median commute distance
495
jobs based in Appleton
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Schools
Appleton’s public schools outperform 49% of Minnesota districts
The public schools Appleton’s kids attend trail 51% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton-Milan Elementary | PK–4 | 230 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state testsAll 1 schools →
Outdoors
0.6% of Appleton is conserved land
1.5 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves.
0.6%conserved
0.6%
conserved · 8 of 1,245 acres
1.5 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
19082007Famous people from Appleton
11 notable people were born in Appleton.
About Appleton
City in Minnesota, United States
Appleton is a city in Swift County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 1,392 at the 2020 census. The town is home to a vacant medium-security prison, the Prairie Correctional Facility, which is wholly owned and operated by Corrections Corporation of America. Appleton also includes a plant-protein factory operated by Eat Just, Inc. Elmer A. Benson, who served as a United States Senator and as governor of Minnesota, was born in Appleton on September 22, 1895. All of its twenty-odd streets, except Minnesota Street, are named for local veterans who died in combat.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,392
- Area
- 2.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,007 ft
- ZIP code
- 56208
- Area code
- 320
More about Appleton
Still missing for Appleton:upcoming events