Upper Bern offers country living near the Appalachian foothills
When asked to describe Upper Bern Township, Realtor Dave Mattes starts with two words: “Really rural.” Farmland, campgrounds and the petite Shartlesville community fill the township’s lower two-thirds, while the northern section consists of public hunting land and the Blue Mountain Range. “It’s for somebody who wants privacy, mountainside views, bucolic farms, woods, fields — the whole nine,” says Dave Mattes, a team leader with RE/MAX of Reading, who’s been selling homes in the area since 1995. Interstate 78 runs straight through the area and offers a quick trip to several retail giants just a few miles east. Amazon also operates a fulfillment center just off the freeway, providing job opportunities. “If you’re looking for country living yet want access to good amenities and services, it’s a nice place to live,” says Mattes.
Outdoor opportunities around Shartlesville
Pennsylvania State Game Land No. 110 is a stretch of public parkland with hunting, fishing and mountaintop sights along the 2,000-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Green Acres Golf Course in the township’s southwest corner has offered an 18-hole course since 1965. And Shartlesville Community Park features three baseball and softball diamonds, a playground, a picnic pavilion and a bandstand just south of I-78.
Ranch-style homes starting at $350,000
Upper Bern Township has fewer than 600 homes, with many on generous plots of land. “You’re going to have mostly one-plus-acre lots,” says Mattes. These properties feature homes from the mid-1800s onward, though most were built since the mid-1900s. Manufactured homes typically sell for $75,000 to $150,000. Older National-style houses and bungalows in the town of Shartlesville usually go for $200,000 to $400,000. More spread-out, newer houses include ranch-style, split-level and colonials that tend to sell for $350,000 to $550,000. The market in the township is highly competitive, with homes usually selling just two weeks after listing. The CAP Index gives Upper Bern a crime score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Specialty courses at Hamburg Area High
Students may start at Tilden Elementary Center, which has a C-plus from Niche, before going to Hamburg Area Middle, which gets a C. Hamburg Area High earns a B-minus and offers career-related studies through specialty and dual enrollment courses.
Commuting into Allentown and Harrisburg
Upper Bern Township's rural layout makes the area car dependent. From the I-78 on-ramp in Shartlesville, commuters can travel 33 miles east to Allentown, while Harrisburg is 45 miles west. Geisinger St. Luke's, the closest hospital, is 9 miles north. Reading Regional Airport is 12 miles south.
Local stores and restaurants in the town of Shartlesville
A few independent eateries and shops operate around Shartlesville, including Blue Mountain Family Restaurant, which has been serving hearty American meals since 1990. Down the street, Kramer’s Korner is a convenience store with grocery items that also serves breakfast sandwiches, subs and burgers. Residents can also take I-78 6 miles east to Walmart Supercenter, Cabela’s, Lowe’s Home Improvement and a slew of chain restaurants.
