The Town FilesAppleton, Wisconsin
City in Outagamie County · population 75,644 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $231,400
- Household income
- $80,483
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 37.5
Appleton is a city of 75,644 people in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $231,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Appleton ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Appleton is worth $231,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $80,483, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,030 a month. 67.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Appleton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,030 | $951 |
| Median household income | $80,483 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Appleton
| People | Appleton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Appleton
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Appleton since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 27, 1984 about 4.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 122 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 135 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on September 7, 2021.
Severe weather in Outagamie County since 1996
Outagamie County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Tornado | DR-4949: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Outagamie County
Outagamie County had 108,592 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,834 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Appleton itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Appleton
38 public schools with 15,563 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North High | 9-12 | 1,612 | 17.9 |
| East High | 9-12 | 1,327 | 15.6 |
| West High | 9-12 | 1,118 | 14.3 |
| Appleton Community 4K | PK-PK | 765 | 23.2 |
| Huntley Elementary | PK-6 | 650 | 14.4 |
| Ferber Elementary | PK-6 | 593 | 14.5 |
| Madison Middle | 7-8 | 575 | 12.8 |
| Houdini Elementary | PK-6 | 560 | 14.4 |
| Einstein Middle | 7-8 | 559 | 14.0 |
| Highlands Elementary | PK-6 | 499 | 10.4 |
| Classical School (charter) | K-8 | 496 | 19.1 |
| Kaleidoscope Academy (charter) | 6-8 | 460 | 11.5 |
Towns near Appleton
- Kimberly, WI2.6 mi · 7,320 people · home $228,100
- Grand Chute, WI3.4 mi · 23,831 people · home $294,700
- Little Chute, WI3.5 mi · 11,619 people · home $245,800
- Combined Locks, WI4.3 mi · 3,634 people · home $246,000
- Menasha, WI5.0 mi · 18,268 people · home $191,800
- Fox Crossing, WI5.9 mi · 18,974 people · home $248,100
- Kaukauna, WI6.1 mi · 17,089 people · home $225,700
- Center, WI7.2 mi · 3,622 people · home $354,500
Appleton questions
Is Appleton, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Appleton scores better for retirees than 4% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 1%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Appleton?
The median owner-occupied home in Appleton is valued at $231,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,483, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,030 a month.
What is the weather like in Appleton?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 49.4 inches of snow.
Does Appleton get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Appleton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 27, 1984. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)