Appleton vs Racine
Compare Appleton, WI and Racine, 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 $985/mo in Racine, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $983/mo and $1,092/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (238 vs 231 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 Appleton; if walkable daily life matters more, Racine screens stronger on the walkability proxy (18 vs 12). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Appleton leads 77 to 74 on the work screen.
Appleton leads 45 to 38 on the daily life screen.
Racine leads 55 to 52 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Appleton is roughly $85,000 in Racine using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Appleton | Racine | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $942/mo | $985/mo | Appleton |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $983/mo | $1,092/mo | Appleton |
| Median home value | $227,000 | $226,000 | Racine |
| State income tax | 7.7% | 7.7% | Tie |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 25.5 min | Appleton |
| Safety score | 65/100 | 65/100 | Tie |
| School score | 6/10 | 4/10 | Appleton |
| Walkability estimate | 12/100 | 18/100 | Racine |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 5/10 | Appleton |
| Restaurants per 100k | 172.0 | 152.2 | Appleton |
| Mountain distance | 272 mi | 294 mi | Appleton |
| Coast distance | 685 mi | 620 mi | Racine |
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
Racine stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 16 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Racine tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Appleton cheaper than Racine?
On public benchmarks Appleton is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $942/mo in Appleton vs $985/mo in Racine; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $983/mo vs $1,092/mo; state income tax is 7.7% vs 7.7%.
Is Appleton or Racine safer?
Appleton screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 65/100 for Appleton and 65/100 for Racine (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Appleton or Racine?
School screens show 6/10 for Appleton vs 4/10 for Racine, 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 Racine?
Appleton: summer highs near 81°F, winter lows near 5°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Racine: 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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