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METRO AREA

Appleton Metro

Appleton, WI · 2 counties · 249,876 residents (2025 est.) · 955.807 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#7Lowest poverty rateof 9256.2%
The short version

Appleton has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $85,875. Population has grown 22% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $268,786. Poverty is rare here, at 6.2% of residents. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
245,768
+22%since 2000
from 201,602 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
257 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 211 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.5
+14%since 2000
from 34.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:249,876 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
168K189K210K232K253K1990201020202024Appleton
2024246K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$85,875
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,209 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$46,727
+113%since 2000
from $21,938 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
56.9%
+22.1 ptssince 2009
from 34.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.437
+11%since 2010
from 0.394 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade22.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration5.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$268,786
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $106,364 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,060
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $525 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
26.7% rent
Vacancy rate
3.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.2%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
35.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 37.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+48%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Appleton on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.6%(188,706)
Black0.5%(955)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(3,642)
Asian2.1%(4,191)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.8%(21,723)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.4%(209,973)
Black1.4%(3,355)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(13,193)
Asian3.5%(8,513)
Other4.4%(10,734)
Diversity Score33%(81,074)
Segregation Score25.8%(63,497)
Diversity Score
33
+206%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
26
−13%since 2020
from 30 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.8%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 22.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.0%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 88.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.3%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.8 min
+81%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.6%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 84.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.1%
+8.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.0%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 72.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.2%
−22.2 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
49.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
4.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−43.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.3%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 8.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.7%
−89.3 ptssince 2013
from 93.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.8%
+9.9 ptssince 2017
from 82.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 93.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.3%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 3.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

AppletonCENTRAL75,452
What's inside

2 component counties

Outagamie CountyCENTRAL195,894Calumet CountyCENTRAL53,982
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Appleton

Hilton Head Island
Pop 242,966
Norwich
Pop 284,015
Bellingham
Pop 236,392
Bend
Pop 266,376
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Head to head

Compare Appleton side by side

APPLETON VS
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Income$83,609−3%
Home value$437,202+63%
Population242,966−3%
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APPLETON VS
Norwich
Income$86,586+1%
Home value$323,400+20%
Population284,015+14%
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APPLETON VS
Bellingham
Income$81,784−5%
Home value$585,800+118%
Population236,392−5%
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APPLETON VS
Bend
Income$90,045+5%
Home value$605,107+125%
Population266,376+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Appleton, WI?

Appleton, WI has about 245,768 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Appleton, WI?

The typical household in Appleton, WI earns about $85,875 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Appleton, WI expensive?

In Appleton, WI, the median home is worth about $268,786, and the typical rent is about $1,060 a month.

How educated are people in Appleton, WI?

About 32.8% of adults age 25 and over in Appleton, WI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Appleton, WI?

About 6.2% of people in Appleton, WI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Appleton, WI grown since 1990?

Yes, Appleton, WI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 70,967 residents, a change of about 41 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →