City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Berlin, WI

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.

5,523
Residents
$55,216
Median income
$143,800
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Berlin - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Berlin places in the 28th percentile for household income and the 84th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

28th
percentile, household income
25th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
84th
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, WI

5,523 people live in Berlin, Wisconsin - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Berlin brings in $55,216 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.3%. Typical homes in Berlin are valued around $143,800, and the median resident age is 41.6 years. 15.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 54.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 14 residential building permits were authorized in Berlin (Building Boom), up 600% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Berlin reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 533.4 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Wisconsin at 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $973 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Wisconsin's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 58.0 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

5,523 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$55,216 /yr

Poverty 11.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Berlin compare to other US cities?

Berlin measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 28% higher than other cities
Home value 25% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 84% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Wisconsin, Berlin ranks #55 of 202 Wisconsin cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Berlin's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Wisconsin, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

28thIncome percentile
84thSafety percentile

28th percentile nationally for median household income · 84th 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 65 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+)

$143,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 75% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $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, WI Berlin, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Berlin, WI-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, WI median $55,216/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, WI'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, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.5%

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

Population
5,523
Median Income
$55,216
Median Home Value
$143,800
Median Age
41.6
Poverty Rate
11.3%
Labor force participation
54.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
533.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
533.4
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
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,550 residents5,600 residents5,650 residents5,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,578 residents 5,588 residents ▲ +0.2%
Berlin's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
14
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 5
2021 4
2022 3
2023 2
2024 14

Permit volume increased 600% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.4%
Carpool
7.8%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
5.3%
Work from Home
4.6%
Other
0.6%

Based on 2,377 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
58.0 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Rothschild
5,532 people
Columbus
5,493 people
Prairie du Chien
5,471 people
Waterford
5,627 people
North Fond du Lac
5,373 people
Milton
5,685 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Berlin's 5,523 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Silver Springs, NV
5,523 people
Noroton, CT
5,522 people
Gray, LA
5,524 people
White Hall, AR
5,520 people
Spencer, MA
5,520 people
New Castle, DE
5,519 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Berlin's $55,216 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Macksville, KS
$55,214 median income
San Miguel, NM
$55,219 median income
Blanchard, ID
$55,212 median income
Pleasant Hill, IL
$55,208 median income
Berger, MO
$55,208 median income
St. Bonaventure, NY
$55,208 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Berlin, WI 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, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.1% White 89.8% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.9% Native Hawaiian 0.6% Some other race 2.7% Two or more races 4.9% 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 Wisconsin 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) 5,523 $55,216
Rothschild 5,532 $87,250
Columbus 5,493 $74,957
Prairie du Chien 5,471 $52,670
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Berlin, WI?

What is the population of Berlin, WI? +

Berlin, WI has a population of 5,523 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Berlin, the typical household earns $55,216 per year, 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 Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

Is Berlin, WI safe? +

Berlin has a total crime rate of 533.4 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, WI? +

A typical home in Berlin is worth $143,800, 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.