Rural neighborhood with small farms and large yards
Earl Township is a quiet community encompassing around 14 square miles among the rolling hills of Berks County. The area is known for its lush orchards, small farms and large yards. "This area is very isolated, if that's something you're looking for," says Lisa Varley, a Realtor with Springer Realty Group, who lives in the area and has sold multiple homes there. "It's a beautiful place to live, and it's still growing." In 1781, a group of residents in Oley petitioned the Reading court to separate Oley's western district, claiming Oley was too big and needed to be divided. The township was named after Hans Graaf, an early Swedish settler whose surname means "earl" in English. Only some of the town’s original mill, tannery and forge buildings remain and have been converted into private residences.
20th-century homes starting in the $200,000s
The township has homes from the early to late 20th century and a mix of architectural styles, including ranch-style homes, farmhouses, Ccolonial Rrevivals and split-levels. "Homes here start with 2 acres," Varley says. "The more acreage you get, the more expensive the home." The streets are narrow, and instead of garages, many residents park in the driveway or elsewhere on the property if the lot is large enough. Some properties also come with a barn. Homes here typically sell for between $200,000 and $500,000.
The CAP Index gives Earl Township a crime score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Athletic facilities and picnic pavilions at Earl Township Park
The 78-acre Earl Township Park has baseball diamonds, soccer fields, two playgrounds and hiking trails. There are also three picnic pavilions, each with electrical outlets and small charcoal grills. The 27-acre Trout Run Reservoir is a popular fishing spot. For indoor attractions, the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles is 4 miles east and features several types of gas, electric and horse-drawn vehicles. There’s also a replica of the DeLorean time machine car from the “Back to the Future” films.
Virtual academy offered by the school district
Students may attend Earl Elementary, which gets a C-plus from Niche, before going to Daniel Boone Area Middle, which earns a B. Boyertown Area Senior High also scores a B. The Boyerstown Area School District also offers a virtual academy to all grade levels, allowing students to complete their education from home at their own pace.
Local staples like Dan’s Deli
Along State Route 73, also called West Philadelphia Avenue, Antonio's Trattoria is known for its authentic Italian cuisine. A little further down the road is Dan's Deli, a family-owned sandwich shop that’s been operating for over 30 years. Shanesville Fruit Mart sells hand-picked fruits and homemade apple cider, jams and jellies. Two miles south of the township, Wilcox Farms also offers farm-grown produce and mows unique shapes to create corn mazes every year. For larger grocery runs, Boyertown is 5 miles east with Walmart, Giant and Weis Markets.
Commuting on State Route 73
Most residents work outside the area and state Route 73, the main road in town, takes residents 14 miles to Reading and 4 miles to Boyertown. Most people have cars because there's no public transportation. Reading Regional-Carl A. Spaatz Field is a 19-mile drive, while Lehigh Valley International Airport is 32 miles away. Lehigh Valley Hospital – Gilbertsville is 5 miles east of the township.
