Located 4 miles north of Lake Winnebago, Appleton shares its history with Lawrence University. In fact, the college was founded a decade before the city was officially incorporated in 1857. Today, Lawrence is considered a historic landmark with a prominent music conservatory, tucked between Downtown Appleton and Lawrence-City Park .
“The growth we’ve seen in the last decade has been insane,” says Vanessa Cebulski, a longtime resident and Realtor with Century 21 Ace Realty. A developing downtown area and vibrant annual events have increased the city’s national attention. “Plus, we have a lot to offer from an employment standpoint; we’re family-friendly and cost-effective," she says. "I’ve seen probably a third of my business being millennials moving back home to be closer to family and settle down.”
Residents of Lawrence-City Park enjoy the historic nature of the area.
College Avenue is where you can find boutiques like Sugar Rushlow.
City Park in Appleton has a bronze fountain sculpture in its center.
Anglers can launch their kayaks and canoes onto Fox River directly from Peabody Park.
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Historic parks just north of Lake Winnebago
City Park is the oldest park in Appleton, located just north of downtown. Surrounded by historic homes, the landmark proudly displays Appleton’s towering Christmas tree each holiday season. Well-loved gathering places like City Park are common in Appleton. Jones Park, located in the Old Third Ward , provides year-round entertainment, including an ice skating rink in the winter and an annual concert series in the summer. Also downtown, the YMCA of the Fox Cities provides youth programming, daycare and summer camps.
“Lake Winnebago is great for recreation, especially boating and fishing,” Cebulski says. “There’s not a ton of heavy boat traffic in the city because of the Appleton Lock system. But from a boating standpoint, there are a couple of businesses where you can rent kayaks or even do a boat tour of the Fox River.” In Alicia Park , waterfront green spaces provide additional public launches.
City Park in Appleton is the city's oldest park.
Temperatures in Alicia Park range from an average of 81°F in the summer to 10°F in the winter.
Appleton Family Ice Center is located on the grounds of Appleton Memorial Park.
Pickleball courts are one of the many amenities Telulah Park in Appleton.
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Fox Valley homes are appreciating
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the City Park Historic District showcases over 100 homes built between 1867 and 1949, including classic Victorian and Dutch Colonial properties. Turn-of-the-century houses also line the streets of Historic Central Neighborhood , while Huntley Houses mainly features late 1900s ranch-style homes, townhomes and split-levels. “Overall, we have low inventory for established homes because people are either choosing to stay or keep their properties as rentals,” Cebulski says. “Beyond the highways, you’ll see faster growth and new construction.”
The median housing price in Appleton sits around $300,000, below the national median. “We haven’t seen anything but appreciation since 2018,” she continues. “The cost of living is relatively low here compared to the rest of the country, but you can see that the price point for under $200,000 is disappearing.”
Downtown Appleton has plenty of traditional farmhouse style homes.
Homebuyers looking in Peabody Park can expect to spend around $166 per square foot.
Erb Park in Appleton also has a few blocks of ranch-style homes.
Older homes in Historic Central have seen updates and expansions through the years.
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Lawrence University gives back
A block south of the City Park Historic District, Lawrence University occupies an 88-acre campus in the heart of downtown Appleton. The private liberal arts college is known for its music conservatory and enrolls about 1,500 students, about 1-in-10 who are from another country, giving the community a global influence. Further, Lawrence is known to help sponsor many of the city’s annual events, including Mile of Music.
The Appleton Area School District serves families of grade-school students within the bounds of Interstate 41 and State Trunk Highway 441. With a B-plus on Niche, the district manages about two dozen schools and 15 public charter schools specializing in the arts, STEM and college prep. Those farther north attend the Freedom Area School District, which earns a B-minus on Niche. “St. Mary’s is a private Catholic high school, and then Xavier’s is a private Catholic district,” Cebulski says. “Both are well-funded if you’re looking for faith-based schools.”
Residents of Lawrence-City Park enjoy the historic nature of the area.
Kaleidoscope Academy scores a C+ by Niche.
At Columbus Elementary School 25% of students are at least proficient in math.
Appleton North High School has a student body of approximately 1,561.
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College Avenue is the beating heart of Appleton
The beating heart of downtown Appleton is a milelong strip of College Avenue, named in honor of Lawrence University. The busy strip is packed with shops and eateries, including Lawlss Coffee, a favorite among college students. “The majority of downtown is locally owned restaurants, which is great for foodies,” Cebulski says. “Author’s Kitchen and Bar is nationally recognized and they’re incredible. If you’re looking for sushi, Katsu Ya is excellent. And then there’s this tiny, cute restaurant in the middle of the city called Ellinor. When you go there, you’ll see either date night or girls’ night.” Residents seeking a broader range of amenities head north of Erb Park , where there are chain grocery stores and retailers. The area offers everything from the Fox River Mall to Woodman’s Food Market, Sam’s Club and Target.
Author's Kitchen and Bar in Appleton is perfect for meeting friends and enjoying great food.
Diners can make reservations at Ellinor in Peabody Park for a mix of upscale and casual dining.
At the end of the day, you can shop or relax with friends in Lawrence-City Park.
Valley Fair families shop at Woodman's for bulk home goods and fresh produce.
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From Mile of Music to Mile of Fun
Appleton experiences four full seasons, with annual festivities held throughout the year. “Mile of Music is a newer event on College Avenue,” Cebulski says. “The nightlife for adults is great because the venues downtown offer free shows for the festival.” Spots like the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Gibson Community Music Hall and even the Déjà Vu Martini Lounge offer live shows and ticketed performances year-round. “During the day, Lawrence University provides educational sessions for children to make it more family-friendly. I like to bring my kids for the little drum classes.” Additional events include the Fox Cities Butterfly Festival in the spring, Art at the Park over the summer and Octoberfest in the fall, nicknamed “A Mile of Fun.”
Artists from all over the country fly into Appleton for the Mile of Music Festival.
Visitors enjoy live music from local artists at the Appleton Farmer's Market.
Live music is the main attraction during Mile of Music.
Art lovers in Alicia Park can explore three floors of galleries at the Trout Museum of Art.
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Appleton’s employers offer a sense of stability
According to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center is one of Appleton’s largest employers. The hospital’s Meade Street location sits between a handful of regional industries like Plexus Corp, The Boldt Company and Amazon. “Compared to Oshkosh or Green Bay, Appleton and the Fox Valley tend to offer more blue-collar manufacturing jobs, which keep the area stable,” Cebulski says. She goes on to note the city’s bikeable streets and overall walkability. Valley Transit provides bus service throughout, but many rely on nearby I-41 and Highway 441 to reach the surrounding hubs. Appleton International Airport is located within the city, though not accessible by bus. Many opt instead for ridesharing or overnight parking.
A decade of development in downtown Appleton
The CAP Index specifically identifies Downtown Appleton as experiencing a disproportionate crime risk. According to data from the Appleton Police Department, the rate of serious crimes, including property crimes and violent incidents, has declined over the past 5 years.
Meanwhile, Cebulski notes, the area has seen a wave of development in the last decade. “There’s been a lot of money put into Downtown Appleton,” she says. “They just broke ground on the new Trout Museum of Art. We've also had a ton of investment in mixed-use buildings, so there are a lot of newer apartments and condos where the main floor is commercial space.”
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