Appleton vs Green Bay
Compare Appleton, WI and Green Bay, WI on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $942/mo in Appleton and $924/mo in Green Bay, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $983/mo and $1,055/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (238 vs 237 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 81°F and 81°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Green Bay; if walkable daily life matters more, Appleton screens stronger on the walkability proxy (12 vs 8). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Green Bay leads 67 to 64 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Appleton leads 45 to 41 on the daily life screen.
Both cities are close on the community screen.
$85,000 in Appleton is roughly $106,250 in Green Bay using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Appleton | Green Bay | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $942/mo | $924/mo | Green Bay |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $983/mo | $1,055/mo | Appleton |
| Median home value | $227,000 | $220,000 | Green Bay |
| State income tax | 7.7% | 7.7% | Tie |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 21.6 min | Green Bay |
| Safety score | 65/100 | 65/100 | Tie |
| School score | 6/10 | 5/10 | Appleton |
| Walkability estimate | 12/100 | 8/100 | Appleton |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 172.0 | 164.6 | Appleton |
| Mountain distance | 272 mi | 264 mi | Green Bay |
| Coast distance | 685 mi | 663 mi | Green Bay |
What stands out
Appleton stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 15 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Appleton tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Green Bay stronger signals
- Trail access within 45 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 20 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Green Bay tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Appleton cheaper than Green Bay?
On public benchmarks Green Bay is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $942/mo in Appleton vs $924/mo in Green Bay; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $983/mo vs $1,055/mo; state income tax is 7.7% vs 7.7%.
Is Appleton or Green Bay safer?
Appleton screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 65/100 for Appleton and 65/100 for Green Bay (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Appleton or Green Bay?
School screens show 6/10 for Appleton vs 5/10 for Green Bay, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Appleton and Green Bay?
Appleton: summer highs near 81°F, winter lows near 5°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Green Bay: 81°F / 5°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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