Uprootmap
Appleton vs Wausau
Appleton and Wausau
Photo: Wikideas1 / Wikimedia, CC0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
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So you know: homicide deaths in Wausau are under the US rate in this release, 1.5 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Appleton to Wausau
In 2022-2023, 40 households filed a move from Appleton to Wausau (about 66 people, average adjusted gross income $85,775). 62 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $916 in Appleton and $748 in Wausau. Appleton has a state tax on wages. Wausau has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Wausau is 96% of the national level for the same work, against 101% in Appleton.
Wausau averages 190 sunny days, with July highs around 81°F and January nights around 17°F. Appleton is 195 sunny days, 82°F in July, 18°F in January. Commutes average 19 minutes in Wausau and 21 in Appleton.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 40 households moved Appleton → Wausau (about 66 people, average AGI $85,775). 62 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Appleton and Wausau changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 96 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,050
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Wausau
Questions
Is Wausau cheaper than Appleton after tax and rent?
Yes. Wausau leaves about $177 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $916 in Appleton and $748 in Wausau.
Does Wausau have state income tax?
Wausau is in Wisconsin, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Appleton to Wausau?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.