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METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Appleton Metro

Appleton, WI · 2 counties · 174,801 residents · 956 sq mi
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The short version

Appleton is a metro area of 174,801 people. 74% of homes are owner-occupied. The poverty rate is 5.9%, under the national 13.2%. The typical home is worth $63,567. The population has fallen 13% since 2000. About 16% of adults have finished a four-year degree.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 31.4
US median: 33.0
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 21%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
174,801
−13%vs 2000
vs 201,602 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
183 / sq mi
−13%vs 2000
vs 211 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
31.4
−9%vs 2000
vs 34.6 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
956 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
168K189K210K232K253K19902000201020202024Appleton
2024246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 58.2%(14,322)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 98.4%(14,659)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.9%(13,896)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197%(12,276)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.9%(12,019)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3418.2%(31,759)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4415%(26,235)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.7%(16,885)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 647.6%(13,294)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 746.2%(10,850)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.8%(6,617)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.1%(1,989)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$33,825
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $50,209 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$13,699
−38%vs 2000
vs $21,938 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
5.9%
+1.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 4.5% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$63,567
−21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $106,364 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$377
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $525 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
73.5%
−0.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 74.0% in 2000
26.5% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.6%(188,706)
Black0.5%(955)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(3,642)
Asian2.1%(4,191)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(170,062)
Black0.2%(298)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(1,130)
Asian1.1%(1,920)
Other1.4%(2,521)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.9%(9,483)
Puerto Rican0.4%(1,052)
Spaniard0.1%(290)
Guatemalan0.1%(288)
Venezuelan0.1%(237)
Cuban0.1%(214)
Colombian0.1%(183)
Honduran0.1%(169)
Salvadoran0.1%(149)
Argentine0.1%(143)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Hmong2.1%(5,118)
Asian Indian0.4%(1,011)
Chinese0.2%(498)
Vietnamese0.2%(412)
Filipino0.2%(398)
Korean0.1%(367)
Nepalese0.4%(209)
Laotian0.1%(199)
Japanese0.1%(100)
Thai0%(40)
Kazakh0.1%(39)
+ 6 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Fijian0%(15)
Samoan0%(13)
Ancestry
German43.4%(106,595)
Irish9.8%(24,012)
Dutch7.2%(17,584)
Polish6.4%(15,718)
English5.4%(13,327)
Norwegian3.6%(8,917)
American3.5%(8,578)
French2.9%(7,059)
Italian2.1%(5,168)
Swedish1.6%(3,845)
Scottish1%(2,375)
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.9%(2,292)
Belgian0.9%(2,198)
Danish0.6%(1,431)
Finnish0.5%(1,323)
Russian0.4%(1,095)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(665)
Hungarian0.3%(649)
Swiss0.2%(558)
British0.2%(524)
Welsh0.2%(486)
Austrian0.2%(444)
Greek0.2%(374)
Croatian0.1%(339)
Slovene0.1%(276)
Canadian0.1%(250)
West Indian0.1%(234)
Ukrainian0.1%(229)
Nigerian0.1%(224)
Arab0.1%(210)
Iranian0.1%(194)
Latvian0.1%(187)
Slovak0.1%(186)
Lebanese0.1%(185)
Lithuanian0.1%(179)
Bulgarian0.1%(141)
Serbian0.1%(137)
Brazilian0.1%(129)
Portuguese0%(122)
Jamaican0.1%(101)
Romanian0%(77)
Kenyan0.1%(68)
Haitian0%(67)
Ethiopian0%(46)
Armenian0%(33)
Turkish0%(30)
Syrian0%(8)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.9%
−6.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 22.2% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
81.2%
−6.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 88.0% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
4.1%
−1.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 5.8% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.3 min
+59%vs 2000
vs 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married32.3%(32,394)
Married56.9%(57,090)
Widowed2.5%(2,474)
Divorced8.3%(8,357)
Women 15+
Never married25.7%(25,689)
Married55.7%(55,602)
Widowed7.4%(7,369)
Divorced11.2%(11,157)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
3.7%
−3.3 ptssince 2013
from 7.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
65.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2020
from 68.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
12.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 13.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
17.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 16.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
13.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 12.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
77.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 79.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
29.5%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 26.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)24%(2,701)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.9%(2,237)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.5%(3,887)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.8%(650)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.1%(119)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 11,258 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
In this metro

Largest cities

AppletonCENTRAL75,452Kaukauna18,517Menasha18,385Harrison14,492Little Chute11,800New London7,726Kimberly7,556Chilton4,183Kiel3,973Seymour3,628Combined Locks3,626Hortonville3,340Brillion3,327Sherwood3,311New Holstein3,040Black Creek1,335Hilbert1,237Shiocton935Dale707Stockbridge654Forest Junction594Bear Creek418Nichols287Brothertown258Potter232
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
Places similar to Appleton
Head to head

Compare Appleton side by side

APPLETON VS
Hilton Head Island
Income$83,609+147%
Home value$437,202+588%
Population242,966−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
APPLETON VS
Norwich
Income$86,586+156%
Home value$323,400+409%
Population284,015+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
APPLETON VS
Bellingham
Income$81,784+142%
Home value$585,800+822%
Population236,392−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
APPLETON VS
Bend
Income$90,045+166%
Home value$605,107+852%
Population266,376+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Appleton, WI?

Appleton, WI has about 174,801 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Appleton, WI?

The typical household in Appleton, WI earns about $33,825 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 $63,567, and the typical rent is about $377 a month.

How educated are people in Appleton, WI?

About 15.9% 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 5.9% of people in Appleton, WI live below the federal poverty line.

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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 →