Cost to Own
United StatesWisconsinWaushara CountyBerlin Population 5,523 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Berlin, Wisconsin

A $144,000 home here costs

$1,347

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $740. The real number is $607 higher every month — 82% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Berlin median: $143,800
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $115,200 borrowed $740
Property tax1.704% effective rate for Berlin itself $204
Homeowners insuranceWisconsin averages $780/yr (NAIC), or 0.309% of home value $37
Electricity19.74¢/kWh — Wisconsin residential average, EIA $177
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $120
Total monthly $1,347

Berlin against Waushara County and Wisconsin

MeasureBerlinWaushara County
Median home value$143,800$186,000
Median property tax$2,451$2,458
Effective tax rate1.704%1.322%
Median gross rent$814$789
Population5,52324,752

Berlin extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Waushara County, where most of its housing sits.

The weather behind that power bill

Berlin sits in Waushara County, which averages a high of 81.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 6.9°F in its coldest, with 34.27" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 502 cooling and 7,864 heating degree days, which is what sets the $177 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Waushara County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Waushara County

Full Waushara County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Berlin?

A $144,000 home in Berlin, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,347 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $740 principal and interest, $204 property tax, $37 homeowners insurance, $245 utilities and $120 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Berlin?

Berlin has an effective property tax rate of 1.704%, based on a median home value of $143,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,451. That is higher than the Waushara County average of 1.322%.

What is the average home price in Berlin?

The median owner-occupied home value in Berlin, Wisconsin is $143,800, against $186,000 across Waushara County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Berlin?

Median gross rent in Berlin is $814 a month, against $1,347 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Berlin — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Wisconsin.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology