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Moving to Appleton and the Fox Cities, Wisconsin

Appleton and the Fox Cities pays new residents up to $12,500 through Creative Professionals Talent Recruitment Initiative. Here is what life costs in Outagamie County, home of Appleton and the Fox Cities, where people work, what there is to do, and remote jobs you can bring with you.
  • $12,500Paid to move hereCreative Professionals Talent Recruitment Initiative
  • $267,300Typical home value1Outagamie County
  • $1,057Typical rent1Utilities included
  • 195,894Population+2.7% since 2020

By Sol Lakein.Checked November 4, 2026.How we compare costs

Get paid to move to Appleton and the Fox Cities

Tap a program for who qualifies, how it pays, whether it is open and the official link.

Every program in Wisconsin

Something to know about Appleton and the Fox Cities

Did you know?

Appleton's Vulcan Street Plant began producing electricity from a water-powered turbine on September 30, 1882, becoming the first Edison hydroelectric central station to serve private and commercial customers.

Source: ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), 1977

A fact about Appleton and the Fox Cities

What it costs to live in Appleton and the Fox Cities

Outagamie County next to Wisconsin and the US.1
MeasureOutagamie CountyWisconsinUnited States
Typical home value$267,300$266,500$332,700
Monthly owner costs with a mortgage$1,637$1,689$1,963
Typical rent, with utilities$1,057$1,087$1,413
Typical household income$85,069$77,485$80,734
Homes lived in by their owners71.5%67.8%65.2%
Households with broadband92.8%90.3%91.0%
Average commute, one way21 min22 min26 min

On the typical home here, the mortgage comes to about $1,469 a month2.

Jobs and work in Outagamie County

  • 101,784Jobs at local employers2023, +2.0% vs 2022
  • 5,304Employer businesses2023
  • 12,522Self-employed businessesNonemployer firms, 2024
  • 92.8%Households with broadbandUS: 91.0%

69.1% of residents 16 and older are in the labor force, the average commute is 20.5 minutes, and 32.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree1,3. Builders pulled permits for 1,022 new homes in 2025.

Remote jobs you can do from Appleton and the Fox Cities

Current remote openings for people living in the US.

Loading current remote jobs.

Things to do in Appleton and the Fox Cities

Notable places in Outagamie County, by type.4

Parks, lakes and the outdoors

  • Heesakker Park
  • Horseshoe Park
  • Hortonville Bog State Natural Area
  • Jones Park
  • La Follette Park

Museums, theaters and libraries

  • Appleton Locks 1–3
  • Appleton Lock 4 Historic District
  • Kaukauna Locks Historic District
  • The History Museum at the Castle
  • Appleton City Park Historic District

Colleges and universities

  • Lawrence University
  • Fox Valley Technical College

Sports and recreation

  • Community First Champion Center

Thinking about Appleton and the Fox Cities? Get the free moving guide

12 pages: what a move costs, hiring movers safely, an 8-week checklist and how to apply for programs like these.

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Moving to Appleton and the Fox Cities: questions people ask

Does Appleton and the Fox Cities pay you to move there?

Yes. Creative Professionals Talent Recruitment Initiative: $12,500 cash. Each program has its own rules, status and official link on its page, checked October 30, 2026.

How much does it cost to live in Appleton and the Fox Cities?

In Outagamie County, the median owner-occupied home is valued at $267,300 and median gross rent is $1,057 a month (US Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Wisconsin: $266,500 and $1,087. United States: $332,700 and $1,413. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest on a home at the county median value come to about $1,469 a month (our arithmetic).

Is Appleton and the Fox Cities a good place to live?

It depends on what you need. On the numbers: home values in Outagamie County are below the US median, household income is above the US median, and the population grew 2.7% from April 2020 to July 2025 (US Census Bureau). Visit before you decide.

Can I work remotely from Appleton and the Fox Cities?

92.8% of households in Outagamie County have a broadband subscription (US: 91.0%; ACS 2020-2024). Check the program rules for job requirements.

What is there to do in Appleton and the Fox Cities?

Notable places in Outagamie County include Heesakker Park, Horseshoe Park, Appleton Locks 1–3, Appleton Lock 4 Historic District, Lawrence University. The full list by type is on this page (Wikidata).

Other Wisconsin towns that pay you to move

Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Costs and people: US Census Bureau QuickFacts, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates (dollars in 2024 terms), read November 4, 2026. "Typical" is the median. Census figures cover all homes and renters, not just recent sales or new leases. QuickFacts
  2. 2Mortgage: principal and interest on the county's typical home value with 20% down at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026), our arithmetic. Rate source
  3. 3Jobs and businesses: US Census Bureau QuickFacts, County Business Patterns 2023, Nonemployer Statistics 2024, Building Permits Survey 2025, ACS 2020-2024.
  4. 4Things to do: notable places from Wikidata (CC0), read November 4, 2026. Know a place we should add? Email hello@slowersundays.com.
Sources for this page