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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Appleton Metro

Appleton, WI · 2 counties · 243,147 residents · 955.807 sq mi
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The short version

Appleton has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $70,085. Population has grown 21% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $179,661.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.2
US median: 38.8
Average education
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
243,147
+21%since 2000
from 201,602 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
254 / sq mi
+21%since 2000
from 211 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.2
+13%since 2000
from 34.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
168K189K210K232K253K1990201020202024Appleton
2024246K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,085
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,209 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,259
+61%since 2000
from $21,938 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
46.3%
+11.6 ptssince 2009
from 34.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
6.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade23.1%
US avg: 10%
Information10.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services6.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration5.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$179,661
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $106,364 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$814
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $525 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
72.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
28.0% rent
Afford Score
2.6
+21%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic85.5%(207,935)
Black1.4%(3,348)
Hispanic / Latino5.1%(12,280)
Asian3.2%(7,857)
Other3.2%(7,842)
Diversity Score30%(72,864)
Segregation Score29.7%(72,306)
Diversity Score
30
+178%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
30
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.0%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 22.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
94.2%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 88.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.3 min
+76%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
84.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 84.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
70.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 72.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
36.6%
−25.8 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
50.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
3.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.5%
−88.6 ptssince 2013
from 93.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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
Places similar to Appleton
Head to head

Compare Appleton side by side

APPLETON VS
Hilton Head Island
Income$83,609+19%
Home value$437,202+143%
Population242,966−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
APPLETON VS
Norwich
Income$86,586+24%
Home value$323,400+80%
Population284,015+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
APPLETON VS
Bellingham
Income$81,784+17%
Home value$585,800+226%
Population236,392−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
APPLETON VS
Bend
Income$90,045+28%
Home value$605,107+237%
Population266,376+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Appleton, WI?

Appleton, WI has about 243,147 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Appleton, WI?

The typical household in Appleton, WI earns about $70,085 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 $179,661, and the typical rent is about $814 a month.

How educated are people in Appleton, WI?

About 30.0% 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 6.7% 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 68,346 residents, a change of about 39 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 →