Appleton, WI at a glance
Median household income
$80,483$6,707 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Appleton, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Appleton, WI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Appleton, WI MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $858 | $10,296 | $34,320 | 12.8% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $960 | $11,520 | $38,400 | 14.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,236 | $14,832 | $49,440 | 18.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,701 | $20,412 | $68,040 | 25.4% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,776 | $21,312 | $71,040 | 26.5% |
What a typical income covers in Appleton, WI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $80,483 a year ($6,707 a month before tax).
What $80,483 leaves after Wisconsin taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Wisconsin tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Wisconsin
Living in Appleton, WI: common questions
What is the median household income in Appleton, WI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Appleton, WI is $80,483 per year (approximately $6,707 per month).
What is the average rent in Appleton, WI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $858 for a studio, $960 for one bedroom, $1,236 for two, $1,701 for three and $1,776 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Appleton, WI expensive to live in?
Prices there run 7.6% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 92.4, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Appleton, WI?
To keep a $1,236 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $49,440 a year, or $4,120 a month. That is 61% of what the typical household in Appleton, WI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Appleton, WI?
On the local median income of $80,483 ($6,707 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,353 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,012 for everything else and $1,341 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,236 takes 37% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Appleton, WI?
Homes in Wisconsin paid 19.6¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $176. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.