The Jefferson Township is part of northern Berks County, and most of its land is used for agricultural purposes. The borough of Bernville forms a small-town center for the community. "We are such a small community that everyone looks out for everyone," says Naida Borrelli, a resident of several years and assistant director at the Bernville library. "We look after everyone's kids and even animals — if someone loses an animal, people will care for it and ask around until it can be returned home."
Jefferson
Small town and rural living
The densest residential area is in Bernville, where American Foursquare homes built in the early 1900s cost around $200,000. Houses often have very little or no space in between them on main streets. For more spacious town living, several pockets of new construction have cropped up around Bernville in recent years, offering $400,000 four-bedroom homes on planned suburban streets. But everywhere else in the Jefferson Township, land is rural and large stretches of farmland separate private residential lots. Cape Cods and ranch-style homes are the most common architectural styles, and prices range from $400,000 for 5 acres to $900,000 for large estates.
Shopping farm-fresh and eating locally
The Eagle Hotel, despite its name, is the most popular place in Bernville to get a meal, not a room for the night. The building has been in Bernville since the 1800s, and today, it serves classic American fare with rotating weekly specials. For quick eats, Mario's Pizzeria is a local favorite, and Rosa's is a small diner that serves comfort country food all day long. Farming is a huge part of life in Jefferson, and grocery stores make sure to offer locally grown produce. Blue Marsh Market, right within Bernville, offers fresh produce and natural goods. Farther north, Way-Har Market has a locally sourced selection and homemade ice cream. For bigger brands, Boyer's Food Market is right outside of Bernville.
Nearby attractions
Right outside of Bernville, the Heidelberg Country Club is a popular wedding venue and has a golf course that is open to non-members. Three miles south, Blue Marsh Lake Park is a popular spot for fishing and boating, as well as swimming during the warmer months. But it's during the winter that Jefferson really begins to shine. The township’s claim to fame is Koziar’s Christmas Village, a holiday lights display that is regularly ranked among the best in the United States. With more than 1 million lights, the outdoor attraction takes over an hour to walk all the way through. "It really is spectacular, and many teenagers get their first job working there," says Borrelli. "For those of us that live in the area, we know the traffic and lines get crazy, so we tend to stay in during evenings!" And all that Reading has to offer is just 15 miles south.
Renovated public schools
Kids in the area are part of the Tulpehocken Area School District, which has an overall 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Students can start at Penn Bernville Elementary School, rated B-minus by Niche. Then it's on to Tulpehocken Junior Senior High School, rated C-plus. The high school is known for its agriculture program and well-funded soccer program. The school started renovations in 2022 and offers students mobile hotspots to ensure reliable Wi-Fi for homework.
Bernville amenities
The Bernville Area Public Library is a huge resource for the township. They offer classes for homeschooled students, a food pantry open to all, and the library's most popular program: mobile Wi-Fi hotspots. Residents can rent the hotspots for a small monthly fee, a much cheaper option than paying for internet lines out to rural homes. "The library always has its eyes and ears open to what the community needs," Borrelli says. "We get people coming from all over, even up from Reading, because they say our library feels like a safe space." For outdoor fun, Umbenhauer Park in Bernville offers residents an open green space and playground.
Celebrating Jefferson Township
To honor the history of Jefferson Township, an annual Community Day celebration is one of the area's biggest events. It's in the name — the event is all about community. Small businesses and crafty residents are encouraged to run a booth showing off what they do. There's also live music and a fireworks show at the end of the day.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
Photography Contributed By
Danny Lambert
Video By
Brad Davis
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Jerry Buffa
Jerry Buffa
Coldwell Banker Realty
(484) 878-3654
146 Total Sales
1 in Jefferson
$185,000 Price
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Melanie Hughes
Melanie Hughes
Crescent Real Estate
(717) 420-8166
77 Total Sales
1 in Jefferson
$160,000 Price
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Denise Bollard
Denise Bollard
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Cornerstone
(717) 937-2994
164 Total Sales
2 in Jefferson
$460K - $1.3M Price Range
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Amy Johnson
Amy Johnson
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Five Star Realty
(272) 261-1454
105 Total Sales
1 in Jefferson
$437,500 Price
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Jennah Good
Jennah Good
Responds QuicklyBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty
(717) 696-0731
149 Total Sales
1 in Jefferson
$388,640 Price
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Daniel O'Brien
Daniel O'Brien
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Of Reading
(484) 509-9537
73 Total Sales
2 in Jefferson
$230K - $400K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 7th to 12th
- Public
- K to 6th
- Public
- K to 11th
- Private
Parks in this Area
Penn Township Park
Womelsdorf Park
Strausstown Lions Club Park
Talbert Park
Jefferson Park
Umbenhaur Park
Jefferson Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Jefferson, Bernville sell after 35 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Jefferson, Bernville over the last 12 months is $330,000, down 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$300,000
Median Sale Price
$330,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$307,500
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$200,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
22
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-14%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$159
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
902
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Median Year Built
1991
Months of Supply
1.60
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,092
Above the national average
1,925
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,251
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
17,859
Open Houses
-
Saturday, Sep 271 - 3pm
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Saturday, Sep 201 - 3pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
3,134
Median Age
41
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
24.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$95,423
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$114,928
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
87%
College Graduates
25.2%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
9.1%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
63.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
18''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
10
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
0
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
North Heidelberg
Rural living in Pennsylvania Dutch Country near Blue Marsh Lake and Reading
Penn
A rural, Pennsylvania township at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains
Heidelberg
Deep rolling hills of farmland and large Colonial-style estates
Marion
Rural, small-town living on the way from Womelsdorf to Lebanon
Tulpehocken
Homes styles spanning the centuries in rural Berks County
Upper Tulpehocken
Rural living and small community centers in Blue Mountain, Pennsylvania
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