Uprootmap
Wausau vs Appleton
Wausau and Appleton
Photo: Tjrudebeck / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
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 Wausau to Appleton
In 2022-2023, 62 households filed a move from Wausau to Appleton (about 88 people, average adjusted gross income $60,468). 40 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $748 in Wausau and $916 in Appleton. Wausau 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 96% in Wausau.
Appleton averages 195 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 18°F. Wausau is 190 sunny days, 81°F in July, 17°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in Appleton and 19 in Wausau.
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, 62 households moved Wausau → Appleton (about 88 people, average AGI $60,468). 40 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 Wausau and Appleton 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 Appleton
Questions
Is Appleton cheaper than Wausau after tax and rent?
No. Appleton leaves about $177 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $748 in Wausau and $916 in Appleton.
Does Appleton have state income tax?
Appleton is in Wisconsin, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Wausau 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.