What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bern has the oldest population (median age 54.5).

Lower Heidelberg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bern	Lower Heidelberg
People
Population	6,705Highest	6,507Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Lowest PA: +2.4%	+13%Highest PA: +2.4%
Median age	54.5±5.4Highest 33% above PA	42.9±2.6Lowest 5% above PA
Kids under 18	12.9%±3.3Lowest PA: 20.4%	25.5%±4.2Highest PA: 20.4%
Age 65+	30.4%±6.5Highest PA: 19.5%	18.2%±5.3Lowest PA: 19.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest PA: 35.2%	53.8%Highest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest PA: 6.1%	4.4%±2.5Highest PA: 6.1%
	Lower Heidelberg and Bern are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,897±$18kLowest 51% above PA	$123,476±$24kHighest 58% above PA
	Lower Heidelberg and Bern are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$339,500±$18kLowest 33% above PA	$422,100±$43kHighest 66% above PA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,620±$698Lowest 34% above PA	$2,685±$335Highest 122% above PA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,265Lowest 59% above PA	$7,526Highest 127% above PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±28.8Lowest PA: 48.2%	91.4%±53.3Highest PA: 48.2%
	Lower Heidelberg and Bern are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Highest PA: 11.7%	1.8%Lowest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86%Lowest PA: 69.3%	91.9%Highest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 5 yrs newer than PA	1993Highest 28 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below PA	31 minHighest 19% above PA
Work from home	12.3%±6.1Lowest PA: 15.6%	16.2%±5.6Highest PA: 15.6%
	Lower Heidelberg and Bern are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#289 of 764 in PA
School district	Berks Career and Technology Center	Wilson SD
High school in town	Berks Career and Technology Center-West Campus	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	0.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

PA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.