Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Berlin, Wisconsin
A $144,000 home here costs
$1,340per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $57,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $785. The real number is $555 higher every month, 71% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Waushara County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Berlin against Waushara County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Berlin | Waushara County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,800 | $186,000 |
| Median property tax | $2,451 | $2,458 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.704% | 1.322% |
| Median gross rent | $814 | $789 |
| Population | 5,523 | 24,752 |
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 $125 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
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Berlin averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Berlin every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Berlin I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Berlin?
A $144,000 home in Berlin, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,340 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $785 principal and interest, $204 property tax, $37 homeowners insurance, $193 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 $1,340 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Berlin?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Berlin, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $57,500 a year. That covers the full $1,340 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
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.