The Town FilesBerlin, Michigan
Charter township in Monroe County · population 9,890 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $268,300
- Household income
- $85,077
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 39.4
Berlin is a charter township of 9,890 people in Monroe County, Michigan. The median home is worth $268,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 90% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 78% of Michigan towns.
How Berlin ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berlin is worth $268,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $85,077, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,284 a month. 86.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berlin | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $268,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,284 | $955 |
| Median household income | $85,077 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Berlin
| People | Berlin | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Berlin
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berlin since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 4, 1969 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 27, 1991.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 41,159 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,516 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Berlin itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Berlin
1 public school with 240 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Niedermeier Elementary School | PK-4 | 240 | 15.0 |
Towns near Berlin
- Rockwood, MI3.0 mi · 3,240 people · home $188,600
- Flat Rock, MI4.8 mi · 10,541 people · home $228,800
- Brownstown, MI5.7 mi · 33,194 people · home $272,700
- Gibraltar, MI6.0 mi · 4,997 people · home $223,200
- Ash, MI6.0 mi · 7,860 people · home $257,900
- Frenchtown, MI7.1 mi · 21,609 people · home $208,000
- Woodhaven, MI7.4 mi · 12,941 people · home $231,800
- Trenton, MI8.3 mi · 18,544 people · home $210,600
Berlin questions
Is Berlin, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berlin scores better for retirees than 8% of Michigan towns and quieter than 16%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Berlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Berlin is valued at $268,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,077, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,284 a month.
What is the weather like in Berlin?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 41.2 inches of snow.
Does Berlin get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 4, 1969. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)