Example household · Racine, WI · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Appleton skyline

Uprootmap

Racine vs Appleton

Racine and Appleton

Photo: Tjrudebeck / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

Swap city

Other cities

So you know: homicide deaths in Appleton are under the US rate in this release, 1.9 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Racine to Appleton

IRS migration on this site does not list a filed flow from Racine to Appleton above the cutoff in 2022-2023.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,162 in Racine and $916 in Appleton. Racine has a state tax on wages. Appleton has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Appleton is 101% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Racine.

Appleton averages 195 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 18°F. Racine is 191 sunny days, 79°F in July, 22°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in Appleton and 24 in Racine.

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.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

The IRS did not publish a large enough Racine → Appleton pair for 2022-2023. That usually means fewer than a few dozen tax returns, not that nobody moved.

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 Racine and Appleton changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 130 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,650–$3,100
Container or pod
$1,100–$2,100
Rent a truck
$400–$750

Movers in Appleton and how to hire one →

Explore more

Questions

Is Appleton cheaper than Racine after tax and rent?

Yes. Appleton leaves about $256 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,162 in Racine and $916 in Appleton.

Does Appleton have state income tax?

Appleton is in Wisconsin, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Racine to Appleton?

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.