The Town FilesBerlin, New York
Town in Rensselaer County · population 1,808 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $214,600
- Household income
- $80,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 41.3
Berlin is a town of 1,808 people in Rensselaer County, New York. The median home is worth $214,600, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 92% of New York towns, quieter than 85% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 85% of New York towns.
How Berlin ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berlin is worth $214,600, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $80,313, which is more affordable than 55% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,160 a month. 80.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berlin | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,160 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $80,313 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.7% | — |
Who lives in Berlin
| People | Berlin | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 32.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 91.1% |
Weather in Berlin
July highs average 77.8°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berlin since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 31, 1998 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on July 17, 2010.
Severe weather in Rensselaer County since 1996
Rensselaer County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County had 56,791 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $78,789 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Berlin itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Berlin
2 public schools with 625 students, about 7.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BERLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 349 | 7.8 |
| BERLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 276 | 7.3 |
Towns near Berlin
- Stephentown, NY7.6 mi · 2,791 people · home $208,800
- Williamstown, MA8.0 mi · 7,513 people · home $437,100
- Poestenkill, NY8.1 mi · 4,322 people · home $303,700
- Grafton, NY8.4 mi · 2,051 people · home $216,800
- Petersburgh, NY8.5 mi · 1,372 people · home $170,300
- Sand Lake, NY8.9 mi · 8,348 people · home $336,200
- Averill Park, NY9.3 mi · 2,098 people · home $273,300
- Williamstown, MA9.3 mi · 4,308 people · home $439,300
Berlin questions
Is Berlin, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berlin scores better for retirees than 34% of New York towns and quieter than 85%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Berlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Berlin is valued at $214,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,313, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,160 a month.
What is the weather like in Berlin?
July highs average 77.8°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 54.4 inches of snow.
Does Berlin get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 31, 1998. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)