$262,724Average Value$166Average Price per Sq Ft5Homes For Sale
A small, community-oriented suburb of Reading
From humble beginnings as an inn outside of Reading to the thriving borough it is today, the past hundred-plus years since Shillington’s founding in 1908 have seen it transform from a pit stop into a veritable town of its own. Home to about 5,500 residents, this Reading suburb is just small enough to provide a sense of community within commuting distance of multiple central-eastern Pennsylvania cities. “Shillington is a fairly small town. It’s mostly residential, but it’s also close to the more commercial areas near the highways,” says Krista Templin, a Realtor with eXp Realty who sells homes across Berks County. “It’s the kind of place where most parents would probably feel comfortable letting their kid go out and walk to a friend’s house.” Renowned novelist John Updike, a Shillington native, even wrote about a fictionalized version of the borough as a true all-American suburb.
The leading industries in Berks County are manufacturing and healthcare, with the region’s second-largest employer, Reading Hospital, situated 2 miles north of Shillington. Tower Health, also based nearby in West Reading, operates multiple urgent care centers and two medical schools in the nearby area. Other surrounding cities, such as Philadelphia, Allentown and Harrisburg, draw commuters from Shillington.
Many of Shillington's amenities lie along Lancaster Avenue.
Shillington Town Hall was dedicated in 1932
Shillington is a neighborhood comprised of row homes, traditional single family homes and small, local businesses.
West Reading is home to the Reading Hospital, one of the area's largest employers.
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Early 20th century townhouses and detached homes
Shillington has a true blend of semi-detached homes and single-family homes, most of which are situated on small lots. Some ranch-style homes with larger yards can be found on the outskirts of the borough, but Italianate townhouses and American Foursquares from the early 20th century are more common. According to Templin, a large cluster of Tudor-inspired homes around Lynoak Avenue are especially desirable for their architecture. The median home price in Shillington is $230,000, lower than the state median of $312,000. Although there tend to be a handful of homes on the market at any given time, properties sell within an average of 14 days, faster than the national average of 44 days.
Unique Tudor Revival homes can be found in Shillington near West Reading.
Brick single family homes are commonly found in Shillington
Ranch houses offer more modest options for those needing less space in Shillington.
American Foursquare homes overlook Shillington from atop the hilly neighborhood.
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Local businesses and parades down Lancaster Avenue
Shillington has a modest retail and restaurant scene, with shopping centers farther along Lancaster Avenue outside of the borough. “A lot of your supermarkets like Giant and Weis Markets are down the road, but some of the homes on Lancaster Avenue have also been converted into commercial space,” Templin says. “There are a couple of restaurants, but mostly it’s barber shops, pharmacies, banks, insurance offices — those types of everyday services.” A handful of municipal buildings, such as Shillington Town Hall and Mifflin Community Library, are also along Lancaster Avenue. For a night out, many residents head 2 miles north to West Reading, where Penn Avenue is a shopping and dining destination.
The Greater Governor Mifflin League Community Days have been held in Shillington for nearly 50 years. For a full week leading up to the Fourth of July, the town comes out to the campus of Governor Mifflin Intermediate School to experience carnival rides, live entertainment and local vendors, culminating in a firework show. On Memorial Day, the community celebrates with a parade from Shillington Park to Shillington Town Hall.
West Reading Fall Fest brings out families and friends to gather together on Penn Avenue.
West Reading's Penn Ave is usually filled with residents walking to one of the many shops.
Lancaster Ave Barber Shop in Shillington
West Reading Fall Fest features local bands and spectators enjoy the atmosphere they create.
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Summer concerts at Shillington Park
Shillington Park is the borough’s community green, equipped with a playground, tennis courts and a baseball field. Some residents pay for memberships at the park’s public swimming pool, a popular place to socialize and cool off in the summer. In June and August, concerts are held on the park’s lawn. To the west, trails follow Wyomissing Creek for miles through the scenic Wyomissing Park System, which ends at the arboretum surrounding Reading Public Museum.
Enjoy a walk along the Wyomissing Creek on a sunny day in West Reading.
Wyomissing Creek passing through Shillington provides natural beauty for the area.
Join friends to work on your game at the pickleball courts in West Reading Park.
Friends gather to relax in the calming atmosphere of Shillington Park.
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Moderately well-rated Governor Mifflin Schools
Shillington is within the Governor Mifflin School District, which serves roughly 4,100 students and scores an overall B grade from Niche. The district operates six schools, two of which are located in Shillington: Governor Mifflin Intermediate and Governor Mifflin High. “Their football team is good, so lots of people come out to watch the game on Friday nights,” Templin says. “They put a lot of money into expanding their athletic center recently.” Two of the district’s elementary schools and its sole middle school are directly outside of the borough.
Governor Mifflin High School serves 1,400 students in Shillington
Welcome to Governor Mifflin Middle School in Shillington PA.
Overview of the sports field at Governor Mifflin High School in Shillington PA.
Mifflin Park Elementary School has 471 students in grades K-4.
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Five miles from Reading and close to major U.S. highways
Parts of Shillington are walkable, but most residents need a car for their commutes. Downtown Reading is less than 5 miles northeast, and Reading Hospital is even closer in West Reading. Numerous Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority bus stops line Lancaster Avenue, a well-traveled thoroughfare that passes through the borough. This major road connects to U.S. Route 222 to the west and U.S. Route 422 to the east. Philadelphia and Harrisburg are both roughly 60 miles away, and the nearest international airport is 45 miles northeast at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown.
A decrease in crime and rare potential for flooding
Per the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System, Shillington Police reported 12 counts of violent crime and 38 counts of property crime in 2023. In the five years since 2018, violent crime decreased by 25% and property crime fell by 47%.
Shillington experiences warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Annual precipitation averages around 45 inches, with a risk of flooding around Wyomissing Creek. However, relatively few homes are situated along the creek; a 2018 Berks County Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Plan found 18 structures in the borough vulnerable to flooding.
Written By
Elliot Schorr
Photography Contributed By
Jay Ratchford
Video By
Alex Jacobsen
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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.
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On average, homes in Shillington, PA sell after 12 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Shillington, PA over the last 12 months is $241,000, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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