Appleton vs Oshkosh
Appleton, Wisconsin versus Oshkosh, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Appleton and Oshkosh score about the same overall (49 vs 52 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Appleton | Oshkosh |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $75k | $59k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $44k |
| Home Value | $192k | $157k |
| Monthly Rent | $913 | $860 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.75% | 2.09% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.94% | 15.02% |
| Unemployment | 3.9% | 2.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 19°F | 19°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 71°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1 in | 33.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.4 in | 39.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 219 days | 219 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 90 days | 90 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 30.1 | 55.3 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 39 AQI |
| School Quality | 48.8 | 68.4 |
| Violent Crime | 1224/100k | 1222/100k |
| Property Crime | 1515/100k | 1627/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 75,133 | 66,373 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 34.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.31 | 0.26 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.00 | 1.05 |
| Political Leaning | R+10 | Even |
| White (%) | 80.7% | 83.5% |
| Black (%) | 2.6% | 4.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.4% | 4.1% |
| Asian (%) | 6.2% | 4.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 19 min | 17 min |
| Walkability | 9.4/20 | 14.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 96 mi | 81 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 92.9% | 87.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 50.04 | 26.06 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Appleton or Oshkosh more affordable?
- Oshkosh has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Appleton's $45k and Oshkosh's $44k. Median rent is $913 in Appleton versus $860 in Oshkosh.
- Is Appleton or Oshkosh safer?
- Oshkosh has the lower violent crime rate. Appleton reports 1224/100k and Oshkosh reports 1222/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Appleton or Oshkosh?
- The median home value is $192k in Appleton and $157k in Oshkosh, so homes are more affordable in Oshkosh.