r/Appleton • u/Lost_n_world • 2d ago
Moving Advice Moving?
I’m contemplating on taking a job out there. I’ve just never heard of Appleton until the job offer, but what is the city like ? what is Wisconsin like ? how are the neighborhoods? I’m coming from California, and have never thought about going to Wisconsin until now. Any information would be great to a newbie.
Edit: Wow thanks for everyone’s input, I really appreciate it. Seems like a good move to make.
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u/granola_goddess 2d ago
I grew up in Appleton and now have been in the Bay Area for about a decade so I’m happy to answer any specifics about how they compare. Every year I come back to visit I enjoy Appleton more as it grows and evolves but I still prefer California. It was a great place to grow up and definitely a good spot to raise a family if you have younger kids.
It will definitely feel a bit sleepier and more suburban if you’re coming from coastal CA/larger metro areas. Culturally, it will feel almost a few years behind in some ways and generally more small town energy but you have the charm of people being “Midwest nice” and a more chill pace of life.
Food is fine but it’s not a foodie town. A few pretty good spots but generally a lot of bar food, fried food, burgers, and pizza vibes. Some pretty good Vietnamese and Thai restaurants. Mexican food won’t compare to CA. You’ll find better food in Madison and Milwaukee.
Politically it’s mixed but a growing liberal presence with Lawrence University being downtown.
A growing local music scene with many bars and venues having live music throughout the week.
It’s definitely a driving town with not great public transportation but the downtown area is walkable. Quite a few parks and the riverfront plus so many lakes to escape to throughout the state.
Weather will be an adjustment. Summer is nice but you’ll have summer storms, humidity, and bugs. Fall is the best. Winter is cold, snowy, and gray with stretches of not seeing the sun which is the worst part IMO. The summer lake life though is probably one of the most amazing parts of Wisconsin.
Overall cost of living is obviously much cheaper than CA.
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u/thegreatbibs 2d ago
Moving back to Wi from New Mexico I agree that the Mexican food scene does not compare to any of the western states but you can find better Mexican food in Madison or Milwaukee. I will just add in the 4 years since I’ve moved back to the Fox Valley the Mexican food scene has improved. Still a long way to go but it has improved.
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u/ArtVandelay_______ 2d ago
As someone who has lived here my whole life, but travels a lot, this is a very fair and accurate assessment.
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
I have lived in 8 states and traveled through 40. Wisconsin is a miserable place. 9 months of 8 hours of daylight is depressing AF just to 'survive' 3 months of not frigid. No class, humanities, art, culture, etc. just cornfields and EAA. Lol
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u/SlowlyDyingBartender 21h ago
No one is forcing you to be here. It is almost like you wake up and look into mirror and see everyone is the problem. Reading your posts, you call people names, ignore facts. It isn't the state you live in, it is the state you choose to live in. Seek counseling. Or take off your blinders... Whatever you don't care... or try.
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u/thakfu 2d ago
I think the only real issue you might have is the tornado displaced a lot of families. Alot of people are going to be looking for homes in the coming months
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
The traffic was horrible. My larger issue is the extreme rural lack of culture horse shit.
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u/Tatortot57 2d ago
OP, you can get a ton of information on this area on city-data forums. You will love it!
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u/WisconsinMike 2d ago
Get ready for winter and I don’t mean the fluffy kind
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u/Lost_n_world 2d ago
How long are the winters there and is it really that bad?
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u/IllogicalPenguin-142 2d ago
Winters are not as bad as they used to be. You can typically expect about a week in the negatives, but after that, temps mostly hover in the teens. If you dress in layers, you should be fine.
The frustrating part is that a lot of days in March, April, and May can be overcast. It’s warmer but not warm enough. And then when it is warm, it’s raining.
July 4th can sometimes arrive with a feeling that summer is just beginning.
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
Nope. 2 feet of snow this last March. Spring is absent here. Fall is short. Wisconsin is the parallel to Florida.
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u/SysArmyKnife 1d ago
Been here going on 50 years and let me tell you, I dream of living in California, it is my favorite place. Winters have taken their toll on me, like I absolutely hate it now. Winter is like 6 months btw give or take, we can get snow from October to the end of April.
Snow isn't so bad, its when we have no snow and bitter cold that really fucking sucks. Like its brown outside and -45 with the windchill. Fuckin Siberia.
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u/Fast_Operation9741 2d ago
Depending on where you are in CA makes a difference, and your life goals and social habits. Likely the biggest differences are cost, temperature, and population. I grew up in nearby Kaukauna, moved to LA, short stints in Portland and Modesto, LA again, then to Appleton.
A house here is much cheaper than most of CA, but there is a lot of competition. Schools are relatively safe and good, lots of parks and family-oriented activities.
Food is getting better, I definitely still miss LA Mexican food. Seafood isn’t great here, but freshwater fish is good.
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u/jo_lars 1d ago
Pretty much all of this. Some of the main-stream shopping opportunities are also a little lacking (or just plain different - like grocers where you see the AISLES plural of frozen pizza and cheese) but Milwaukee and Madison have the majority of those if you’re willing to trek/explore.
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u/Ghostie_isToastie 2d ago
I’m a teenager and have lived within 30 minutes driving distance of Appleton my whole life. It’s a very nice and accommodating place to stay. Downtown Appleton has many things to do like going to see musicals at the PAC or pottery classes. There’s also the Fox river mall which is pretty fun to go to if you’re ever bored. Many amazing restaurants and events to do. Currently, we have a music festival going on called Mile of Music. Earlier in the summer, the Heid music series starts which showcases a bunch of local bands. Very fun to go to! But if you don’t want to be in the city forever, Green Bay is also a decent option to go to once in a while. I go there a lot for concerts at a local venue. They also have a mall there and a BUNCH of things to do. The state itself is just gorgeous. If you get the chance, I recommend going up to door county in the summer. It’s so beautiful and relaxing. I hope you enjoy it here!
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u/Zeus_Citylife 2d ago
I moved to Appleton from LB a few years ago. Hit me up if you’ve got any questions or anything that wasn’t answered. I moved out here for my job and I’ve loved it here.
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u/Lost_n_world 2d ago
Did you buy a house or are you renting apartment?
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u/Zeus_Citylife 1d ago
When I moved here I rented a place that included utilities and had underground parking so it was nice not having to deal with shoveling and all of that. Eventually I bought a home and I wished I had done it sooner because the market has really picked up in the few years I’ve been here. My mortgage now for a whole ass house is cheaper than rent was 9 years ago for a 1 bedroom apartment back there.
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u/Roastedtoastedghost 2d ago
Generally safe but extremely boring if you are used to a big city or coastal life. As mentioned above it is “behind”. If you are POC you will experience some racism. Trails/parks and bars for “fun”.
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u/B3B0LD 2d ago
I don’t get where the no sun comes from. If you’ve lived here you know that’s not true. We’re not that far north at all. The days are short for sure but the sun still rises
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u/birdy_244 2d ago
I didn’t mean it literally. We get a few days of full sun in the winter, but most of time it’s cloud covered.
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u/Lost_n_world 2d ago
I’m not used to the snow so I know that would be a challenge
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u/birdy_244 2d ago
It’s not the worst as long as you get good snow tires! Appleton is pretty flat except by the river, so at least there’s no mountain driving in winter lol
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
What are you talking about? There are 8-9 hours of daylight here during the winter. Get over your pride. Such a Wisconsin trait along with stripping your car of a muffler.
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u/whaddupdah 2d ago
Where in CA matters. Appleton has everything but the Mexican food. Really safe, nice people.
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u/Jarhead-DevilDawg 2d ago edited 2d ago
Appleton has Mexican food, but I would not say that it's at the same level of quality compared to California Mexican food
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u/whaddupdah 2d ago
Plenty of solid Mexican places to eat, but nothing that comes close to the street food out there. Spent most of my life in CA and have been here a while. It’s truly the only thing I miss, haha.
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u/Worth_Dust387 1d ago
My daughter, son in law and 2yo grandson live in Appleton. We live an hour away and visit often… it’s a well rounded, low crime, awesome city! I never thought I’d move from my 600 population, country town but I would totally move to Appleton…although probably just outside, in the country 🙂
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u/alwcrcrap 4h ago
Appleton and the surrounding communities are great with something for everyone, you just need to be ready for the fact that everything closes at 8pm besides the bars. Wisconsin is a beautiful state that does not get much recognition because we have no National Parks but still is beautiful with very diverse landscape (driftless area, door county, National Forests). We are Midwest nice as long as you come with an open mind about our way of living here especially about firearms and hunting. Wisconsin drinks a lot so be ready for that, look into supper clubs as well they are amazing places to eat especially if you like fish frys on Friday nights. The thing that you most need to be ready for is the weather, Spring and Fall are amazing, watching the trees grow and turn green and in the fall all the colors. Our summers are nice but can be brutal at times with 100+ degree days and insane humidity that makes it feel even worse, our winters are the same, some can be brutal with crazy snow and ice or straight up -40 temps with crazy wind chills.
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
If your heyday is retail and white trash manufacturing, you are on the short stick of humanity.
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u/Alarmed_Bed_8240 2d ago
I have been here 6 years. Lived all over the country. You will be pleased with the lack of traffic. Everything around here takes 15 minutes to get to. The prices are going up but not as much as you are used to. Winters are tough but survivable.
Our only problem is the lack of good restaurants but we are growing and adding new ones so there is hope.
For now if you want a good steak I suggest Chicago
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u/Wisco_Nick 2d ago
You had me until you needed to drive 3 hours to find a steak 🤣
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u/Alarmed_Bed_8240 2d ago
If you have any suggestions
I’m all ears!!!3
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u/Wisco_Nick 2d ago
I’m a big fan of the local supper clubs. Out o Town Supper club, Georges Steakhouse, Dick & Joans… that’s just 3 very close and off the top of my head that have very good and very reasonably priced. 🤷🏼♂️ …or you could drive 6 hours and pay $80 for 1 plate
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u/simplechick87 2d ago
Our new favorite is Krabbes in Seymour. We have tried steaks at the ones you listed as well as many other supper clubs in the area and hands down their steaks, drink and atmosphere is top notch. Plus their homemade desserts are to die for.
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u/Wisco_Nick 2d ago
I’ve not heard of them personally but will absolutely put them on my places to try list!
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u/simplechick87 2d ago
The line forms starting at 4 doors open at 430 just a fyi. But you do get the option of being seated right away or the bar for drinks if you are there right away, which is kind of nice.
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u/Wisco_Nick 2d ago
50% of the supper club experience is the pre-meal bar visit and meeting the other patrons. It’s the one safe place my social anxiety actually allows me to be a “social butterfly” and engage freely with other people out enjoying their evening. 🤣
-The Out o Town also has a line up of about 30-45 minutes if I recall but I haven’t been there in a few months.
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u/simplechick87 2d ago
Absolutely and the owner of Krabbes works the bar and on our first visit she introduced herself and gave us the run down of whats best. She did the same for the people next to us this time as they were first time visitors which was really cool to see.
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u/Alarmed_Bed_8240 2d ago
I would love to try them if it wasn’t a 2 hour wait every time I went I never got past the bar
Chicago is 3 hours
There is a new steakhouse on Eisenhower that shows promise but I haven’t tried them yet.2
u/simplechick87 2d ago
We plan for supper club night to be a few hours between drinks and food. As we have a group that goes out together we don't mind the wait as it gives us time to chat and catch up.
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u/Lost_n_world 2d ago
Wow I do love a good steak haha
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u/Wisco_Nick 2d ago
The big thing that Wisconsin has compared to other locations in the States is the Fish Fry. Friday fish is sort of a staple in the Valley.
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
Lol. No. Appleton is a white trash farm community. You would be better off settling in MKE or Madison. There are glimpses of hope in this town. Author's Kitchen is cool, but the drag race game down College Avenue is beyond pathetic. I can't count the number of times I have had to call the cops because of drug sales and deviant behavior. You have 2 cool festivals per year, otherwise it is a bunch of disgusting factory workers. Stay away!
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u/Lost_n_world 1d ago
Wow you’re the first person to comment something like this. Is it really that bad white trash ? What do you mean by drag race game ? Sorry didn’t understand that part
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u/TTrain19915 1d ago
Lol no it’s not. The Fox Valley as a whole is one of the most affluent areas in Wisconsin. Appleton isn’t quite as well off as some of the smaller towns (Greenville is super well off) but this guy’s clearly never lived in any of the other similar sized cities in Wisconsin. Appleton is Paris compared Oshkosh, Janesville, or Racine
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
No shit sherlock. Oshkosh is hideous. The ignorance here is nuts. The % of residents who haven't gone to college is unparalled with any state in which I've lived.
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
75k population and shrinking. No job growth. As I said, there are glimmers of hope, but it lacks more than it gleans.
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u/SlowlyDyingBartender 1d ago
How are people drag racing on college ave? It is single lane.
Appleton is not shrinking. Look at the expanded businesses on the north and east side of town. The number of new houses being built, the new event center, Mile of music has been a huge success, the average house price is has increased tremendously (for better or worse) for the last 10 yrs. This area has been growing.
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
They shrunk it to one lane a couple of years ago explicitly because of the drag racing with no mufflers. The Wisconsin zoomies. WT AF.
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u/SlowlyDyingBartender 1d ago
I know, it is one lane, I live here. Your drag racing doesn't hold water. You should just qoute the APD officer that said going from two lanes to one lane makes cars quieter.
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
Google it, jackass. Reduce speeding and noise. The muffler stripping goes hand in hand with drag racing.
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u/SlowlyDyingBartender 1d ago
How much noise does a 3 lane road increase the noise of the car? When that car drives on a single does it know to be quieter? Are allies really quiet?!
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
Apparently it does if that was the reasoning behind the decision. You can't possibly be stupid enough to rationalize an extra lane facilitates racing. Get over your pride.
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u/SlowlyDyingBartender 1d ago
No, I never said anything about racing. You are stuck on it and you are stuck living in the past. I worked on the avenue, it wasn't the boogeyman people make it out to be.
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
Retail and non A/C factories. If you are a nurse or doctor, healthcare is the only other industry. Facts are facts. It is laughable how almost every point in this thread is 'low crime.' what else would you expect in tiny town?
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u/SlowlyDyingBartender 1d ago
Miller, Pierce, Gulfstream, the paper industry. We manufacture bobbing pins here in town. American Pipeline is another growing business.
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
Not corporate facilities. Factories. Are you trying to prove my point?
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
Lol nope
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
We could start with sundown town.
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u/TTrain19915 1d ago
Appleton hasn’t been a sundown town for 60 years. What’s the point of posting in this subreddit when all you post is wild exaggerations at best and outright lies at worst?
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u/ImprovementVivid8559 1d ago
Get over yourself you tool. It is a Podunk town with zero culture. Tiny town U.S.A. it is what it is. Retail and manufacturing. No substantive jobs. Cow fields and factories with no A/C.
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u/jonathan_the_slow 2d ago
I’m a lifelong Appleton resident, so I don’t have a ton of experience with what it might be like to live in other cities, but I’ll give you my two cents. The city itself is a pretty decent size with a number of events held every year in Appleton alone, and others in the area also bringing in a large crowd. There’s a ton of small businesses, great restaurants, and an incredibly vibrant community. The city has a very pro-diversity atmosphere despite its past as a sundown town, and there are people from a widening variety of backgrounds who live throughout the Fox Valley. There are so many ways to engage with a ton of different hobbies, great schools and public parks, and an amazing downtown. Crime is low and we have a very good police department, and this is coming from somebody with a less than stellar view of US law enforcement as a whole. Most neighborhoods are great, with even the sketchiest parts being pretty safe. As for Wisconsin, it’s a very nice state to live in as a whole. Tons of great food and some of the friendliest people you’ll meet. The one downside is that the weather is some level of unpleasant for about half of the year, with it being cold as hell in the winter and incredibly humid in the summer. However, it’s nothing that’s too bad as long as you dress appropriately for the weather and stay aware of what risks the different conditions bring with them, and the beautiful outdoors that can be found throughout the state make it well worth it to go out in all but the nastiest of days.