SmartAsset.com Rates Appleton as One of America's Best MiLB Towns

GRAND CHUTE, WI - SmartAsset.com has rated every city that is home to a Minor League Baseball franchise and Appleton, Wisconsin finished at #5 out of 158 cities that were ranked.

The rankings were based on a Quality of Life Score and a Game Day Experience Score. The criteria for the Quality of Life Score were the unemployment rate, property crime rate and violent crime rate in each town along with the average discretionary income and the concentration of dining and entertainment establishments. The basis of the Game Day experience Score was team records, minor league classes, stadium rankings and average attendance rates.

"There is no doubt that we are very lucky to live in such a wonderful region as Northeastern Wisconsin and we are very proud to be ranked in the top five of all of Minor League Baseball," said Timber Rattlers president Rob Zerjav. "This is a rating that the entire community can and should be proud of."

The Timber Rattlers were also ranked at #5 after the 2014 season, but dropped out of SmartAsset.com's Top 10 after the 2015 season. They have bounced back to #5 after the 2016 season.

The markets to finish ahead of Appleton were: Round Rock, Texas (AAA - Express); Columbus, Ohio (AAA - Clippers); Nashville Tennessee (AAA - Sounds); and Charleston, South Carolina (A - RiverDogs).

There were three other Midwest League markets to be rated in the Top 25: #14 Geneva, Illinois (Kane County Cougars); #20 Fort Wayne, Indiana (Fort Wayne TinCaps); and #25 Cedar Rapids, IA (Cedar Rapids Kernels).