BernWI
A town of 618.
Is Bern a good place to live?
Only 1 of the 363 Wisconsin towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Bern. The biggest park or preserve is Marathon County Forest- Bern Wetland Unit, at 261 acres. Bern has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
618 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Bern: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bern, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bern.
Bern stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with fewer of its working residents who work locally
0.8% of Bern working residents work locally, against 8.3% in Wisconsin’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. The top destinations are Wausau (15%), Athens (10%) and Marathon City (7%). Half commute less than 22 miles.
| Bern | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.8% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $79,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Bern faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 71% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Bern has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Bern has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Bern’s July high is 79°F, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 82°F and U.S. towns at 85°F.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
How healthy Bern is
Bern beats the Wisconsin average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 18% of Bern adults smoke cigarettes.
| Bern | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 32% | 36% |
| What stands out | Bern | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 17.5% | 13.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.1% | 6.5% |
| More adults who get no exercise | 31.6% | 26.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Marathon County Forest- Bern Wetland Unit | — | 261 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Everything we know about Bern
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Bern; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Bern residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
99% of working residents leave Bern for work
Where Bern’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Bern
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Bern is a town in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 614 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated community of Gad is located partially in the town.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 34 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,434 ft
Questions about Bern
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Bern, WI a good place to live?
Bern has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.