Population 121,304 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Appleton
Household size in Appleton
| Period | Appleton | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Appleton is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.49, mirroring the country. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Appleton
| Period | Appleton | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.0 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.0 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.6 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Appleton are younger than 39.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in Wisconsin overall, where the median age is 41.4. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.2, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Appleton
| Period | Appleton | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Appleton than nationally: 9.4%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Wisconsin. Compared with other Wisconsin cities, though, Appleton has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Appleton
Renters in Appleton
| Period | Appleton | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.8% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.6% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.7% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.9% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in Appleton rent their homes (33.9%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 38.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.1 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Appleton
| Period | Appleton | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.9% of homes in Appleton are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Appleton
| Period | Appleton | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Appleton are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Wisconsin as a whole, where the median home dates to 1974. The median year built has moved up from 1975 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Appleton
| Period | Appleton | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $706 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $777 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $894 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,124 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$419 | +$380 | +$606 |
Rent in Appleton runs $1,124 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $419 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Appleton
Bachelor's degrees in Appleton
| Period | Appleton | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.0% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.7% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.2% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.9% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Appleton as nationally: 37.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in Wisconsin as a whole (33.6%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.9 points, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Appleton
| Period | Appleton | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.0% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.2% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Appleton: 95.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Appleton
| Period | Appleton | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Appleton has been low: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Appleton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | 2.40 | 39.6 | 9.4% | 33.9% | 4.9% | 1979 | $1,124 | 37.9% | 95.2% | 3.1% |
| Kimberly | 2.26 | 41.5 | 7.3% | 39.6% | 5.2% | 1973 | $1,154 | 31.3% | 96.3% | 3.2% |
| Menasha | 2.35 | 37.8 | 9.1% | 31.8% | 4.9% | 1980 | $1,080 | 29.3% | 93.1% | 2.8% |
| Little Chute | 2.44 | 36.6 | 8.3% | 36.4% | 4.9% | 1985 | $1,057 | 27.6% | 94.0% | 2.2% |
| Combined Locks | 2.57 | 44.9 | 3.6% | 15.5% | 2.8% | 1977 | $929 | 37.6% | 96.9% | 5.1% |
| Kaukauna | 2.55 | 40.2 | 6.9% | 22.9% | 4.1% | 1982 | $1,126 | 28.0% | 95.0% | 2.6% |
| Greenville | 2.75 | 40.3 | 5.3% | 9.3% | 0.9% | 1999 | $1,323 | 45.6% | 98.8% | 1.1% |
| Neenah | 2.42 | 40.2 | 9.0% | 31.4% | 5.0% | 1979 | $1,108 | 39.5% | 95.8% | 1.7% |
| Sherwood | 2.52 | 49.5 | 3.1% | 2.6% | 7.0% | 1996 | $1,293 | 38.2% | 96.9% | 1.3% |
| Murphy Corner | 2.93 | 37.1 | 5.7% | 19.4% | 4.1% | 1993 | $1,029 | 35.2% | 97.9% | 3.0% |
| Center Valley | 2.38 | 45.6 | 3.6% | 11.2% | 3.5% | 1991 | $1,083 | 17.9% | 95.0% | 0.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Evanston, IL · Eugene, OR · Evansville, IN · Fall River, MA · Fairfax, VA · Cumming, GA · Cypress, TX · Costa Mesa, CA · Columbia, MD · Daly City, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Appleton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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