The Town FilesBerne, Indiana
City in Adams County · population 4,173 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,700
- Household income
- $62,159
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 33.6
Berne is a city of 4,173 people in Adams County, Indiana. The median home is worth $151,700, close to the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of Indiana towns, hipper than 90% of Indiana towns, better transit than 90% of Indiana towns.
How Berne ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berne is worth $151,700, close to the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $62,159, which is more affordable than 58% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $792 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berne | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,700 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $792 | $888 |
| Median household income | $62,159 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Berne
| People | Berne | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Berne
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 17.9°F. About 41.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.8 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berne since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 99 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 14, 1970.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| June 8, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1766: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 12, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3274: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 12,932 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,465 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Berne itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Berne
3 public schools with 1,308 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Adams Elementary School | PK-5 | 647 | 14.7 |
| South Adams High School | 9-12 | 365 | 13.0 |
| South Adams Middle School | 6-8 | 296 | 11.8 |
Towns near Berne
- Decatur, IN11.9 mi · 9,913 people · home $142,800
- Bluffton, IN12.8 mi · 10,308 people · home $149,600
- Portland, IN15.2 mi · 6,320 people · home $96,700
- Ossian, IN18.8 mi · 3,266 people · home $201,500
- Coldwater, OH20.8 mi · 4,774 people · home $232,200
- Celina, OH21.8 mi · 10,935 people · home $164,100
- St. Henry, OH23.6 mi · 2,596 people · home $287,000
- Van Wert, OH24.0 mi · 11,092 people · home $123,900
Berne questions
Is Berne, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berne scores better for retirees than 20% of Indiana towns and quieter than 7%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Berne?
The median owner-occupied home in Berne is valued at $151,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,159, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $792 a month.
What is the weather like in Berne?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 17.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.8 inches of snow.
Does Berne get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berne since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)