City profile · Maryland · Census ACS 2023

Berlin, MD

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Berlin - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

5,161
Residents
$78,883
Median income
$345,100
Median home
$1,194
Median rent (state)

Berlin - the verdict

Nationally, Berlin sits in the 60th percentile for household income and the 65th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

60th
percentile, household income
71st
percentile, home value
36th
percentile, median rent
65th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Berlin, MD

Maryland's Berlin is a small town, with 5,161 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Berlin households earn a median of $78,883 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.0%. Home values in Berlin run a median of $345,100, and the median resident age is 39.9 years. Educational attainment runs 37.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 60.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 16 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 72% from five years earlier. Berlin reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 973.7 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Maryland carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Maryland scores 105.0 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,194 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Maryland run around $255, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 68.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

5,161 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maryland

Median Household Income

$78,883 /yr

Poverty 8.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maryland average

How does Berlin compare to other US cities?

Here's how Berlin stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 71% pricier than other cities
Median rent 36% pricier than other cities
Safety 65% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Maryland and the picture shifts: Berlin ranks #15 of 70 Maryland cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Berlin against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Maryland only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Maryland-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Berlin toward the bottom of Maryland's cities

Among the 479 Maryland cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Berlin ranks #406 - the 13th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Berlin only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#316 of 445
29th percentile in Maryland
Median Gross Rent
#406 of 479
13th percentile in Maryland
Median Home Value
#246 of 450
45th percentile in Maryland
Poverty Rate
#119 of 479
74th percentile in Maryland
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#210 of 479
56th percentile in Maryland

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Maryland only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

60thIncome percentile
65thSafety percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income · 65th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Berlin's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Berlin's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 57 Avg. percentile National median
Berlin's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Berlin's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$345,100 29th percentile more affordable than 29% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Berlin $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Berlin, MD Berlin, MD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Berlin, MD-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Berlin, MD median $78,883/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Berlin, MD's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Berlin, MD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 37.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
5,161
Median Income
$78,883
Median Home Value
$345,100
Median Age
39.9
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Labor force participation
60.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
37.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
973.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
73.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
900.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,000 residents5,100 residents5,200 residents5,300 residents5,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,065 residents 5,335 residents ▲ +5.3%
Berlin's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
16
housing units authorized
Single-Family
6
detached homes
Multifamily
10
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 57
2020 4
2021 78
2022 38
2023 25
2024 16

Permit volume decreased 72% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.3%
Carpool
7.1%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
4.5%
Work from Home
7.8%
Other
1.2%

Based on 2,445 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Maryland - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$255
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maryland state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Maryland state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Berlin sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,194/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.2 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maryland

Deale
5,182 people
Hampton
5,138 people
West Ocean
5,124 people
Middletown
5,108 people
Cresaptown
5,238 people
Silver Hill
5,068 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Berlin's 5,161 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hickory Creek, TX
5,161 people
Calistoga, CA
5,159 people
Camilla, GA
5,158 people
Beach Haven West, NJ
5,164 people
Bangor, PA
5,158 people
Smithville, TN
5,158 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Berlin's $78,883 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Grand Prairie, TX
$78,889 median income
West Wood, UT
$78,889 median income
Andrews, TX
$78,896 median income
Las Lomas, CA
$78,869 median income
Pomona, CA
$78,869 median income
Farmersville, OH
$78,864 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Berlin, MD Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Berlin, MD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.0% 15.5% 8.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.4% White 75.0% Black or African American 15.5% Asian 0.7% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.4% Two or more races 8.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Berlin compares to nearby Maryland cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Berlin (this city) 5,161 $78,883
Deale 5,182 $123,176
Hampton 5,138 $171,969
West Ocean 5,124 $93,776
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MD FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Berlin, MD?

What is the population of Berlin, MD? +

Berlin, MD counts 5,161 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Berlin, MD? +

Berlin households earn a median of $78,883 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Berlin? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Berlin; the closest available measure is the Maryland state average, a cost of living index of 105.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maryland vary by metro area.

Is Berlin, MD safe? +

Berlin has a total crime rate of 973.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Berlin, MD? +

Homes in Berlin carry a median value of $345,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.