The Town FilesBerlin, Wisconsin
Town in Marathon County · population 949 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $250,700
- Household income
- $91,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 45.8
Berlin is a town of 949 people in Marathon County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $250,700, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 92% 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 $250,700, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $91,875, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 90.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berlin | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $825 | $951 |
| Median household income | $91,875 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Berlin
| People | Berlin | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Berlin
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 3.4°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 182 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berlin since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 10, 2011 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 20, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 1996.
Severe weather in Marathon County since 1996
Marathon County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marathon County
Marathon County had 70,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,976 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Berlin itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Towns near Berlin
- Maine, WI5.2 mi · 2,613 people · home $277,500
- Hamburg, WI5.8 mi · 827 people · home $246,000
- Scott, WI6.2 mi · 1,377 people · home $266,400
- Stettin, WI6.5 mi · 2,580 people · home $370,100
- Rib Falls, WI7.8 mi · 947 people · home $299,400
- Merrill, WI8.3 mi · 9,347 people · home $123,800
- Marathon City, WI10.0 mi · 1,576 people · home $198,200
- Wausau, WI10.4 mi · 39,994 people · home $167,900
Berlin questions
Is Berlin, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berlin scores better for retirees than 8% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 52%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Berlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Berlin is valued at $250,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,875, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Berlin?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 54.3 inches of snow.
Does Berlin get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 10, 2011. 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)