Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
17%
Appleton
Appleton, WI Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,074
Population
72,165
Renter Mix
35% Rent
A riverfront city with plenty of charm.
Riverfront
•
Lake
•
Outdoor Adventures
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Family-Friendly
•
Parks
•
Green Space
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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
Demographics
Median Household Income
$68,367
Average: $87,151
Education
20,934
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
39,409
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Appleton has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
35%
Non-Renters
65%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
24%
Other Education
76%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Appleton, WI is $1,050 for a studio, $1,074 for one bedroom, $1,250 for two bedrooms, and $1,711 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Appleton has increased by 1.6% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,074/month
772 Sq Ft
House
$2,179/month
1,286 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,760/month
1,410 Sq Ft
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 $1,050 - $1,711. You can expect to pay 0.2% less for groceries, 14.6% less for utilities, and 4.8% less for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Appleton, WI is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
60
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
60
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
337 Students
Public
Grades K-8
96 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
649 Students
Public
Grades K-5
450 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
611 Students
Public
Grades K-8
96 Students
Public
Grades K-8
200 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
553 Students
Public
Grades K-8
487 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
481 Students
Tesla Engineering Charter School
Public
Grades 9-12
149 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
58 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,561 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
155 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
92 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
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
PRE/3
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184
Communities
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14,199
Units
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118
Cities
19 Communities in Appleton
Northern Management
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98
Communities
-
14,556
Units
-
40
Cities
15 Communities in Appleton
Lexington Management
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37
Communities
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3,597
Units
-
14
Cities
10 Communities in Appleton
Focus Property Group
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37
Communities
-
4,942
Units
-
14
Cities
9 Communities in Appleton
Toonen Properties
-
18
Communities
-
3,524
Units
-
6
Cities
7 Communities in Appleton
ACC Management Group, Inc.
-
45
Communities
-
2,724
Units
-
31
Cities
4 Communities in Appleton
Living in Appleton
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.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.