Appleton is a small town of 1,346 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $40,000
and a 3.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Appleton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Appleton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Appleton city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 87.5
Appleton's overall cost of living index is 87.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Appleton costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Appleton, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$67,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$600
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Appleton's violent crime rate is 147.3 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
147.3 /100k
Property Crime
73.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Appleton is served primarily by Lac qui Parle Valley Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Appleton, MN
National Avg
School District
Lac qui Parle Valley Schools
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Appleton sees average highs of 23.9°F in January
and 84.9°F in July,
with 27.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 51.0 inches of snow per year.
Appleton's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Appleton roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $67,900 and median rent is $600/month.
Appleton's violent crime rate is 147.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 73.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Appleton are operated by Lac qui Parle Valley Schools.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 16.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Appleton, MN has a population of 1,346, a median household income of $40,000, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Appleton averages 23.9°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.4 inches
with about 51.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Appleton, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56208.
The population of Appleton, Minnesota is 1,346 with a median age of 51.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Appleton: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $67,900, median household income $40,000, crime index 25 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Appleton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
