Longswamp
Neighborhood in Mertztown, Pennsylvania
Berks County 18011, 18062, 19539
Houses from throughout the century
Along the streets of Topton, homes built at the turn of the nineteenth century go for around $200,000. Styles are mainly American Foursquare, with Victorian and Colonial influences. Some homes are packed in tight rows, others are more spacious, but all sit on gridded sidewalk-lined streets. Surrounding the older heart of the town, contemporary homes with quarter-acre lots cost around $300,000. In the rest of the rural Longswamp Township, ranch-style homes with quarter-acre lots start at $200,000, and Colonial-inspired homes with several acres go for $400,000. Properties out here are separated from their neighbors by stretches of farmland and forest and are often set back from main roads for privacy. The Mountain Village Community in the south of the township also offers mobile-home living ranging from $50,000 to just over $100,000.
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Fishing and outdoor fun
The Topton Community Park offers big and little kids playgrounds, a basketball court that the teens enjoy and public restrooms for those who choose to stay a while. Locals are also proud of the Topton Mini Museum, a collection of town history, which boasts a Moon Tree — a tree grown from seeds that have been to outer space. Longswamp Community Park also offers sports courts and a playground and is a popular spot to go sledding in the winter. For those who enjoy fishing, Hunsicker's Grove, an old stone quarry filled with water, is seasonally stocked with fish. At the edge of the township, Bear Creek Ski and Recreation Area offers white slopes in the winter and hiking trails when it gets warmer.
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Walkable schools with steps for success
The area is served by the Brandywine Heights Area School District, which has three schools. All are located within Topton, making them walkable for those living in town. Brandywine Heights Elementary School and Brandywine Heights Intermediate School both receive a B-plus rating from Niche. Brandywine Heights High School is rated C-plus and has a pre-engineering program designed to prepare students for classes at the college level. The high school also offers dual enrollment with several local colleges and a career pathways program with the Berks Career and Technical Center.
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Swampy spirit
"Longswamp's got some unique character," says Heather Wicke, the director of Topton's public library. "The biggest event is Swampfest, which includes a mushball tournament, fireworks and of course the swamp thing costume contest — people get really into it." Mushball is a version of softball where a 16-inch ball slowly gets more deflated, or mushy, throughout the game. In town, the Topton Community Outreach Club plans events all year round, but they are best known for their annual Halloween Parade, which offers prizes for the best float. People put out blankets and chairs early to reserve their spots along the route. The Club also supports golf tournaments and fishing derbies. Residents can also head to the Brandywine Community Library for weekly community crafting and book clubs. "We've got our own unique character, too," Wicke says. "Our mascot is Sheldon the turtle; we throw him a birthday party each year." Kids enjoy reading with Sheldon, a real live turtle, and the library has a teen program that offers field trips to places like Washington, DC.Local restaurants and nearby attractions
For most shopping and dining, residents of Longswamp head into Topton. Herman's Drive-In is only open in the summer and is known for its milkshakes served in a retro diner. Jak's Downtown Diner has been the go-to place for breakfast for many locals over the past 20 years. And Tony's Italian Restaurant and Pizzaria is a favorite for more than just pizza — locals also enjoy the sandwiches and fries. For groceries, Radcliff Bros is right outside Topton and has a selection of fresh produce and name-brand essentials. Kutztown, 6 miles north of Topton, has a selection of small boutiques and a Giant grocery store. And Reading and Allentown, both 20 miles away, have shopping malls and big box stores.
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Written By
Catherine Lashley
Photography Contributed By
TJ Engler
Video By
Ruo Zheng
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Mark Chaknos
Mark Chaknos
Keller Williams Platinum Realty - Wyomissing
(484) 507-1825
165 Total Sales
1 in Longswamp
$485,000 Price
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Jerry Buffa
Jerry Buffa
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Realty
(484) 878-3654
148 Total Sales
1 in Longswamp
$250,000 Price
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Loren Keim
Loren Keim
Century 21 Keim Realtors
(610) 831-4500
510 Total Sales
1 in Longswamp
$485,000 Price
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Nancy Bischoff
Nancy Bischoff
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Valley Partners
(848) 281-0796
88 Total Sales
3 in Longswamp
$161K - $380K Price Range
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Melanie Hughes
Melanie Hughes
Crescent Real Estate
(717) 420-8166
71 Total Sales
1 in Longswamp
$295,000 Price
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Coral Kreiser
Coral Kreiser
Saunders Real Estate
(484) 214-2713
11 Total Sales
1 in Longswamp
$230,000 Price
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 4th to 8th
- Public
- K to 3rd
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
William Delong Park Bowers
Mountain Village Park
Longswamp Community Park
Topton Community Park
bowers park
Hunsicker's Grove
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Longswamp | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Longswamp Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Longswamp, Mertztown sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Longswamp, Mertztown over the last 12 months is $290,000, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$300,000
Median Sale Price
$290,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$300,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$190,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
65
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
9%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$179
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,972
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1964
Months of Supply
0.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,735
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,383
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
15,245
Open Houses
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Sunday, Jun 1512 - 2pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
7,867
Median Age
47
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
19.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.7%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$71,456
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$86,688
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
89.6%
College Graduates
18.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.5%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
64.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
45''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
20''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
5
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
6
/ 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.
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