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Wisconsin city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Appleton?

What it costs to live in Appleton, and how it compares with other Wisconsin cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

57

16th best value in Wisconsin

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Wisconsin cities.

Overall livability

56

22nd overall in Wisconsin

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Appleton is home to about 74,752 people. A typical home runs $165,900 and a household earns around $68,400, a price-to-income ratio of 2.4. Among Wisconsin's largest cities, it ranks 16th for value and 22nd overall.

Appleton at a glance

Median home price

$165,900

11th in WI of 57

Median rent

$833/mo

Median household income

$68,400

Home price to income

2.4x

Unemployment

3.9%

39th in WI of 57

School rating

5/10

26th in WI of 57

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in WI of 57

Walk score

8/100

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‹ See all top Wisconsin cities ranked  ยท  Wisconsin state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Wisconsin only. Updated 2026.