Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Appleton compared to Milwaukee? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Appleton | Metric | Milwaukee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | Cost of Living Index | 90 | +2.3% |
| $235,000 | Median Home Price | $225,000 | -4.3% |
| $900 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,195 | +32.8% |
| $62,500 | Median Household Income | $56,400 | -9.8% |
| 2.0% | Property Tax Rate | 1.8% | -10.0% |
| 3.0% | Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | +53.3% |
| 19 min | Average Commute | 24 min | +26.3% |
| 35.8 | Median Age | 33.4 | -6.7% |
| 240,000 | Metro Population | 1,590,000 | +562.5% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Appleton costs $1,648/month (PITI) compared to $1,541/month in Milwaukee — a difference of $107/month or $1,284/year. The price-to-income ratio is 3.8x in Appleton versus 4.0x in Milwaukee, suggesting Appleton is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.0 years to save a down payment in Appleton compared to 5.3 years in Milwaukee.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Appleton | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $62,500 | $56,400 |
| State Income Tax | $2,160 | $1,837 |
| Federal Income Tax | $5,371 | $4,639 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,781 | $4,315 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $4,700/yr | $4,050/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 5.0% | 5.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $12,312 (19.7%) | $10,791 (19.1%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $50,188 | $45,609 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $12,312 in Appleton (19.7% effective) versus $10,791 in Milwaukee (19.1% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $50,188 in Appleton and $45,609 in Milwaukee. Property taxes add $4,700/year on the median Appleton home versus $4,050/year in Milwaukee.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $62,500 in Appleton (COL 88) and relocate to Milwaukee (COL 90), you would need $63,920 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you would need a raise of $1,420 to maintain the same standard of living in Milwaukee.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Appleton is 19 minutes versus 24 minutes in Milwaukee, a difference of 5 minutes each way. Appleton's lower unemployment rate of 3.0% versus 4.6% suggests a stronger job market. Appleton skews slightly older with a median age of 35.8 vs 33.4 in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee is 2.3% more expensive than Appleton overall. Milwaukee has a cost of living index of 90 compared to 88 for Appleton (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $225,000 in Milwaukee vs $235,000 in Appleton.
The median home price in Milwaukee is $225,000, which is $10,000 more than Appleton's median of $235,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,195/month in Milwaukee vs $900/month in Appleton, a difference of $295/month or $3,540/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $62,500 salary in Appleton is equivalent to $63,920 in Milwaukee. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Appleton's COL index of 88 vs Milwaukee's 90. Conversely, $56,400 in Milwaukee equals $55,147 in Appleton.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $12,312 (19.7% effective rate) in Appleton vs $10,791 (19.1% effective rate) in Milwaukee. Property taxes on the median home are $4,700/year in Appleton (2.0% rate) vs $4,050/year in Milwaukee (1.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 5.0% in Wisconsin and 5.0% in Wisconsin.
Appleton median household income: $62,500/yr. Milwaukee median household income: $56,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $900 in Appleton vs $1,195 in Milwaukee. Annualized that is $10,800 vs $14,340.
Appleton offers a lower cost of living (index 88 vs 90), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Milwaukee typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Appleton and Milwaukee numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Appleton vs Milwaukee cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .