The Town FilesBerlin, Wisconsin
City in Green Lake County · population 5,571 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $160,300
- Household income
- $59,472
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 40.1
Berlin is a city of 5,571 people in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $160,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 93% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 91% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 88% of Wisconsin towns.
How Berlin ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berlin is worth $160,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $59,472, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $832 a month. 56.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berlin | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $832 | $951 |
| Median household income | $59,472 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 56.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Berlin
| People | Berlin | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Berlin
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 8.3°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berlin since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 0.5 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 22, 2011.
Severe weather in Green Lake County since 1996
Green Lake County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Green Lake County
Green Lake County had 5,899 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,517 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Berlin itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Berlin
3 public schools with 1,297 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Lamberton Elementary | PK-5 | 537 | 12.8 |
| Berlin High | 9-12 | 475 | 11.9 |
| Berlin Middle | 6-8 | 285 | 11.0 |
Towns near Berlin
- Ripon, WI10.4 mi · 7,863 people · home $174,900
- Omro, WI11.6 mi · 3,652 people · home $197,900
- Winneconne, WI15.3 mi · 2,544 people · home $218,100
- Winneconne, WI16.1 mi · 2,590 people · home $368,800
- Algoma, WI16.2 mi · 6,866 people · home $334,400
- Oshkosh, WI19.6 mi · 66,816 people · home $177,700
- Dayton, WI24.0 mi · 2,644 people · home $254,400
- Clayton, WI24.3 mi · 4,329 people · home $409,700
Berlin questions
Is Berlin, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berlin scores better for retirees than 23% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 16%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Berlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Berlin is valued at $160,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,472, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $832 a month.
What is the weather like in Berlin?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 8.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 40.7 inches of snow.
Does Berlin get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)