| Despite the recession, Fox Valley real estate and | | | | equipment), the Appleton school district, Fox River |
| Appleton real estate have seen an influx of eager | | | | Valley Technical College, Thrivent Financial for |
| buyers over the last five years. According to the | | | | Lutherans (life insurance), Appleton Papers Inc |
| 2008 population estimates, Outgamie County added | | | | (coated & laminated paper), Wal-mart (discount |
| 1,761 residents last year. Winnebago County also | | | | stores). Sara Lee Corp / Hillshire Farms (meat |
| surpassed the state average in growth, adding 1,061 | | | | processing), Outgamie County (government) and |
| additional residents. | | | | Miller Electric Manufacturing (welding & soldering). |
| "The Fox Cities metropolitan area is doing very well | | | | The Wisconsin Department of Revenue said that the |
| by comparison to most other communities in | | | | Appleton area saw a 5.1% increase in employment |
| Wisconsin," said Kara Homan, an economic | | | | from 2003 to 2007, seeing large growth in the |
| development specialist with the East Central | | | | service, finance, insurance and Appleton real estate |
| Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. "People are | | | | sectors. In their annual survey, the WRD found that |
| attracted to the Fox Cities, No. 1, because of the | | | | 87% of the 202,000 workers polled said they were |
| fact that people can get jobs here." | | | | satisfied with the local job market. Additionally, |
| The Fox Valley real estate area saw its first major | | | | Policom Corporation rated Appleton #109/363 in |
| population increase in 1853 when the first paper mill | | | | terms of economic strength. |
| opened. Today the Fox River Valley has the highest | | | | "Our home values never appreciated at the rates we |
| concentration of paper-making facilities in the world, | | | | saw in other parts of the country during the housing |
| with 80 paper manufacturing facilities and 90 | | | | boom," Kara Homan noted. "That's another thing that |
| publishing companies. The local paper industry | | | | makes this area attractive to people. Our housing has |
| employs roughly 10% of the Fox Valley residents. | | | | always been reasonably affordable." The cost of |
| However, the Appleton real estate area is blessed | | | | living is low, the amenities are high in Fox Valley real |
| with many other employment opportunities as well. | | | | estate -- what more could a person looking to |
| Among Fox Valley Wisconsin companies that employ | | | | relocate possibly want? |
| more than 1,000 workers are: Thedacare (medical | | | | |