Home › WI › Appleton, WI Cost of living in Appleton, WI Livability score 65 · cost-of-living index 93.7 (US = 100)
How Appleton compares Where Appleton falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 94 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 94 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $350k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $350k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $206 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $206 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 5.4% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 5.4% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.56% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.56% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 320 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 320 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 19.2 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 19.2 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 82° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 82° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 8° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 8° Map of Appleton Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 93.7 metro-area #80 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 93.8 metro-area #27 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.33 metro-area #79 of 200 Median household income $79,958 metro-area #59 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $46,096 metro-area #34 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 39.3 years metro-area #120 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 32.1% metro-area #110 of 200 Foreign-born residents 4.0% metro-area #180 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 73.7% metro-area #17 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 2.92% metro-area #5 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +4.3% metro-area #92 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $350,370 metro-area #108 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.4× metro-area #75 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +6.1% metro-area #8 of 200 Price per square foot $206 metro-area #122 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,700 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,217 metro-area #15 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 603 Median days on market 44 metro-area #187 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.9% state #134 of 200 Combined sales tax 5.43% state #7 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 7.65% Capital gains tax 7.65% state #156 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.56% metro-area #152 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,532 metro-area #139 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 79.5 years metro-area #29 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,800 state #93 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 5.0% metro-area #17 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 74 metro-area #108 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $13,000 state #131 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $85 state #68 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 21 min metro-area #19 of 200 Commute by driving alone 79.1% metro-area #162 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 23.2% metro-area #32 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 19.2¢/kWh state #126 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $173 state #126 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal state #63 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $72 state #100 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $42 state #3 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $85 state #178 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 state #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 69.0 — Relatively Low metro-area #9 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 state #16 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 37 metro-area #16 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 600 metro-area #14 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 92% state #105 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 7,200 metro-area #190 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 5 metro-area #19 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 82°F metro-area #10 of 200 Avg winter low 8°F metro-area #193 of 200 Annual precipitation 34.6" metro-area #58 of 200 Annual snowfall 48.7" metro-area #166 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 54% metro-area #161 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 5a Frost window 05-15 → 10-01
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 320 state #39 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,600 state #37 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Appleton Major public and private employers in the Appleton, WI area.
Employer Sector Jobs ThedaCare Healthcare Careers → Pierce Manufacturing Manufacturing Careers → Spectrum Communications Tech Careers → Appleton School District Education Search →
Salaries by occupation in Appleton Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $176,630 Pharmacists $141,100 Financial Managers $129,170 Physician Assistants $128,650 Human Resources Managers $126,500 General & Operations Managers $118,870 Marketing Managers $117,520 Lawyers $101,350 Construction Managers $101,340 Software Developers $101,070 Mechanical Engineers $97,530 Physical Therapists $96,510 Civil Engineers $88,630 Data Scientists $87,650 Registered Nurses $80,500 Dental Hygienists $78,530 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $78,210 Accountants & Auditors $76,980 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,920 Electricians $76,230 Carpenters $61,120 Web Developers $60,440 Elementary School Teachers $60,380 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,140 Graphic Designers $52,370 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $50,960 Real Estate Sales Agents $50,630 Medical Assistants $45,270
Cities in the Appleton area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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