The Town FilesBerlin, Minnesota
Township in Steele County · population 506 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $279,500
- Household income
- $100,972
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 41.6
Berlin is a township of 506 people in Steele County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $279,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for families than 90% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 85% of Minnesota towns, quieter than 76% of Minnesota towns.
How Berlin ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berlin is worth $279,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $100,972, which is more affordable than 77% of Minnesota towns. 97.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berlin | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $279,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $100,972 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 97.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 32.4% | — |
Who lives in Berlin
| People | Berlin | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Berlin
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 4.8°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berlin since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1967 about 6.5 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 69 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 25, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on June 17, 2009.
Severe weather in Steele County since 1996
Steele County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Steele County
Steele County had 18,956 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,897 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Berlin itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Towns near Berlin
- Ellendale, MN2.7 mi · 676 people · home $155,200
- Lemond, MN5.8 mi · 503 people · home $263,200
- Geneva, MN6.3 mi · 508 people · home $182,500
- New Richland, MN7.4 mi · 1,229 people · home $137,000
- Somerset, MN8.6 mi · 733 people · home $283,300
- Otisco, MN8.7 mi · 544 people · home $320,300
- Clarks Grove, MN9.1 mi · 694 people · home $123,400
- Meriden, MN11.7 mi · 620 people · home $258,300
Berlin questions
Is Berlin, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berlin scores better for retirees than 43% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 76%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Berlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Berlin is valued at $279,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,972, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Berlin?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 4.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 45.3 inches of snow.
Does Berlin get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1967. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)