Appleton 82 Exceptional
Appleton Livability #44 ranked city in Wisconsin#1,073 ranked city in the USARanks better than 96% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
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Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Appleton

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    High commute scores indicates that public transit should be easily accessible in this area and the average commute time to work is less than average.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Crime Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

CONS
  • Ratings Ratings

    AreaVibes conducted surveys and polls with locals who live in the area. The results were not favorable for walkability of amenities, parks, public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

What's it like Living in Appleton?

Appleton is a mid-sized city located in the state of Wisconsin. The city has a population of 76,203 people. With a population density of 3,117 people per square mile, Appleton is well above the nation's average density level. According to the most recent Census, 84% of Appleton residents are White, 7% Asian and 3% Black. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Appleton is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 19 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in Appleton can be a positive experience for anyone relocating to the city. Having said that, in the state of Wisconsin, there are many amazing places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. To help you find the best places to live in and around Appleton, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, cost of living, health & safety, housing and more.

The livability score in Appleton is 86 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 98th percentile of all cities across America. This is a terrific score, as Appleton ranks well in multiple categories! The cherry on top is that Appleton also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Appleton has higher than average grades for the following: crime (B-), cost of living (A+), employment (B-) and housing (A+).

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Appleton has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Appleton real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Appleton. Median real estate prices in Appleton come in at $278,023, which is 7.7% lower than the Wisconsin average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Appleton, the home price to income ratio is 3.1, which is 16.2% lower than the Wisconsin average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Appleton

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Compare Appleton, WI Livability

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      Appleton transportation information

      Statistic Appleton Wisconsin National
      Average one way commute19min22min26min
      Workers who drive to work80.7%80.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.7%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.8%1.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.5%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk4.2%3.3%2.8%
      Working from home5.3%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Appleton, WI data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.