Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Appleton City’s subject grades is an A for cost of living; the weakest is a D for incomes. 29% of residents are 65 or older in Appleton City, where Missouri’s towns sit at 17% and U.S. towns at 18%. No town among the 171 in Missouri we compare has a lower property crime rate than Appleton City. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 89% of the country. Appleton City Downtown Commercial District is on the National Register of Historic Places. Appleton City has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Appleton City beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Missouri), ordered by how far Appleton City is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 1,034 in 1880, 1,032 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers and 4 maps from 1887 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Appleton City, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Appleton City.
19% of Appleton City adults report frequent physical distress, above both Missouri’s towns (15%) and U.S. towns (14%). 37% of adults get no exercise outside work in Appleton City. Appleton City beats the Missouri average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 12.
| Appleton City | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 30% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 37% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 12% | 12% |
| What stands out | Appleton City | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.3% | 77.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 12.7% | 8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by Appleton City R-II. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton City Elem.Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 161 | C− |
| Appleton City HighLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 170 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MO on state tests and graduation
Appleton City’s median rent is $557 a month. Typical home values fell 6.5% in the year to September 2026. 58% of Appleton City households own their home.
| Appleton City | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $557 a month | $971 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 58% | 64% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Appleton City has chilly winters and warm summers. The July high in Appleton City is 89°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most working residents leave Appleton City for work: only 12% work in town. Since 2013, Appleton City has lost 60 jobs, to 497 in 2023. The top destinations are Clinton (16%), Springfield (5%) and Butler (4%).
| Appleton City | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 9% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 14% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 61% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Appleton City's reported crime rate is well below Missouri's. No violent crimes were reported in 2025.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
None within 15 miles of Appleton City; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Appleton City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
5 notable people were born in Appleton City.
City in St. Clair County, Missouri, United States
Appleton City is a city in St. Clair County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,032 as of the 2020 census. It is the most populous city in St. Clair County.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
5 notable people were born here, including Vester Pegg and Donald L. Cox.
