Appleton, WI vs Fond du Lac, WI

Fond du Lac is moderately more affordable than Appleton, with a 8.1% lower cost of living index. Appleton scores 79 compared to 73 for Fond du Lac, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Appleton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Appleton is $957/month compared to $905/month in Fond du Lac — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fond du Lac is more affordable at $161,300 median vs $211,500.

Median household income in Appleton is $77,450 compared to $61,620 in Fond du Lac (+25.7%). While Appleton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Appleton spend roughly 14.8% of their income on rent, less than the 17.6% in Fond du Lac.