Menasha receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Menasha
Appleton
Opportunity
71 · Top 21%
vs72 · Top 20%
Growth
71 · Top 15%
vs26 · Bottom 13%
Climate
57 · Bottom 8%
vs57 · Bottom 8%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 6%
vs98 · Top 1%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
66 · Top 38%
vs71 · Top 26%
Measured values
| Metric | Menasha | Appleton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,273 | 75,023 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,698 | $80,483 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,055 | $50,397 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,023/sq mi | 2,951/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $191,800 | $231,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $903 | $1,030 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.3% | 67.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.7% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 38.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 8.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 152 | 54 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.3 | 0.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 484.6% | -47.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 11°F | 11°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 30.6" | 31.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 20.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.6 | 37.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Menasha
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Appleton
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Menasha, WI · Appleton, WI · How this is calculated: methodology