Appleton

A pelican on the Fox River
Gorgeous fall colors along the Fox River
A historic trestle bridge in Appleton
Fall in Telulah Park

Appleton, WI Area Guide

A riverfront city with plenty of charm.

Riverfront Lake Outdoor Adventures Family-Friendly Parks Green Space

Nestled along the Fox River Valley, Appleton combines city conveniences with a welcoming community atmosphere. Home to 75,644 residents, this Wisconsin city features Lawrence University's campus, which enriches the downtown area along College Avenue. The city's 28 parks include the 139-acre Memorial Park, while the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center hosts Broadway shows and concerts throughout the year. Housing options range from historic properties near downtown to newer developments throughout the city, with current average rents ranging from $979 for one-bedroom units to $1,165 for two-bedroom apartments, showing a moderate 4.2% annual increase.

Downtown Appleton celebrates its heritage at the Hearthstone Historic House Museum, the world's first home powered by hydroelectricity. The downtown district comes alive during signature events at Houdini Plaza and the Mile of Music festival. The Fox River Mall serves as a regional shopping destination, while College Avenue features locally-owned shops and seasonal markets. Lawrence University anchors the educational community, and residents have access to healthcare through ThedaCare Regional Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital. With a cost of living below many comparable cities, Appleton maintains its appeal as an accessible, well-connected community.

Explore the City

Gorgeous fall colors along the Fox River

A historic trestle bridge in Appleton

Fall in Telulah Park

The City Park Historic District in Appleton contains Victorian architecture

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Appleton, WI is $1,062 for a studio, $1,069 for one bedroom, $1,241 for two bedrooms, and $1,727 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Appleton has increased by 1.5% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,069/month
771 Sq Ft
House
$2,577/month
1,490 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,670/month
1,338 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Appleton, WI

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Appleton, WI is 2.0% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Appleton is 1.0% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,062 - $1,727. You can expect to pay 0.2% less for groceries, 14.6% less for utilities, and 4.8% less for transportation.

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Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Appleton, WI is for everyday living.

Car-Dependent

46 / 100

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

Bikeable

51 / 100

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Fox River Academy

Public

Grades K-8

Woodland Intermediate

Public

Grades K-5

Huntley Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Woodland School

Public

Grades K-5

Houdini Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Fox River Academy

Public

Grades K-8

Odyssey-Magellan

Public

Grades K-8

Classical School

Public

Grades K-8

Einstein Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

Valley New School

Public

Grades 6-12

Renaissance School

Public

Grades 9-12

North High

Public

Grades 9-12

East High

Public

Grades 9-12

West High

Public

Grades 9-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • The Building for Kids
  • Outagamie County Dog Park
  • Colony Oaks Park
  • Sunset Park
  • Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve

Airports

  • Appleton International
  • Green Bay/Austin Straubel International

Top Apartments in Appleton

Houses for Rent in Appleton

Property Management Companies in Appleton, WI

Living in Appleton

Restaurants

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Appleton is one city that offers a wide variety of world cuisines. If you love schnitzel, you have to stop in for an order -- and top it off with some beer -- at Old Bavarian, which specialized in German-inspired food. Take the heat up a notch at Sai Ram Indian Cuisine, which has hundreds of positive reviews and even offers vegan dishes. When your appetite turns toward Greek, Apollon is the answer. Of course, you can stop by any number of Italian restaurants to get your fill of pasta. Victoria's and Carmella's are loved by residents. This city offers every sort of convenience restaurant you'd expect from a larger city. Eateries such as T.G.I. Fridays and Outback steakhouse provide familiar menus. You'll never find a shortage of good pubs that offer burgers and the typical bar fare. What Wisconsin city lacks these? Stone Cellar Brewpub and Appleton Beer Factory both excel at American cuisine. If you want to try British pub food, then Beefeater's is the place to go.

Shopping

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Appleton's Fox River Mall is one of the largest around, making it a shopping destination for thousands of people in Central and Eastern Wisconsin. The mall has a variety of well-known stores including Abercrombie & Fitch, Bath & Body Works, Designer Shoe Warehouse and Rogers & Hollands Jewelers. Five department stores make up the cornerstones of the mall: Target, JC Penney, Younkers, Macy's and Sears. A multi-level food court provides plenty of eating options. Aside from the Fox River Mall, downtown boasts a smaller mall in addition to many smaller shops on College Avenue. Stores such as Blue Moon Emporium, Fox River Wood Shop and Two Paws Up Bakery provide the small town feel in Appleton, despite the city's large college crowd and accessibility. There are plenty of strip malls where you can buy books, multimedia, furniture, pet supplies and more.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.