The Town FilesBerne, New York
Town in Albany County · population 2,689 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,300
- Household income
- $105,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.7
Berne is a town of 2,689 people in Albany County, New York. The median home is worth $296,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 98% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of New York towns, quieter than 93% of New York towns.
How Berne ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berne is worth $296,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $105,219, which is more affordable than 52% of New York towns. Median rent is $983 a month. 94.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berne | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $983 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $105,219 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.9% | — |
Who lives in Berne
| People | Berne | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 33.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Berne
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 13.0°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.6 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berne since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 10, 1989 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 30, 1991.
Severe weather in Albany County since 1996
Albany County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Albany County
Albany County had 233,390 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,387 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Berne itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Public schools in Berne
2 public schools with 714 students, about 9.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 386 | 10.7 |
| BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 328 | 8.6 |
Towns near Berne
- Knox, NY5.8 mi · 2,635 people · home $299,800
- Westerlo, NY8.2 mi · 3,194 people · home $316,200
- Middleburgh, NY9.3 mi · 3,112 people · home $175,900
- New Scotland, NY9.7 mi · 9,096 people · home $348,500
- Voorheesville, NY10.5 mi · 2,841 people · home $324,700
- Schoharie, NY10.6 mi · 3,107 people · home $235,200
- Guilderland, NY11.1 mi · 36,848 people · home $357,400
- Duanesburg, NY12.2 mi · 5,863 people · home $295,100
Berne questions
Is Berne, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berne scores better for retirees than 65% of New York towns and quieter than 93%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.7).
How much does a house cost in Berne?
The median owner-occupied home in Berne is valued at $296,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,219, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $983 a month.
What is the weather like in Berne?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 13.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 52.6 inches of snow.
Does Berne get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berne since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 10, 1989. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)