What it's like to live in New Berlin
New Berlin is a small city in Wisconsin with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. New Berlin deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold, harsh winters, snowy winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 52" per year
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How New Berlin compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to New Berlin
Based on New Berlin's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,852
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,040 a year
- 37% of New Berlin renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$73,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $36,570
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,426/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,426 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $365,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $365,700 · 37% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 35% below US
2.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.8%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 86% below US
47 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 613/100k · New Berlin Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 15°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 31% above US
47% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 47% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pullman National Historical Park (92 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
New Berlin's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,426/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (15% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near New Berlin
All Wisconsin guides →Moving to West Allis →
6 mi away · pop. 59,612
Rent $1,007/mo · Income $67,611
Compare with New Berlin →Moving to Greenfield →
6 mi away · pop. 37,345
Rent $1,170/mo · Income $70,459
Compare with New Berlin →Not sure New Berlin is the one?
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