What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bern has the most people working from home (12.3%).

Muhlenberg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.7%).

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	Muhlenberg
People
Population	6,705Lowest	22,127Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Lowest PA: +2.4%	+11.7%Highest PA: +2.4%
Median age	54.5±5.4Highest 33% above PA	42.3±2Lowest 3% above PA
Kids under 18	12.9%±3.3Lowest PA: 20.4%	20.8%±2.2Highest PA: 20.4%
Age 65+	30.4%±6.5Highest PA: 19.5%	19.2%±2.2Lowest PA: 19.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Highest PA: 35.2%	26%Lowest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest PA: 6.1%	4.9%±1.3Highest PA: 6.1%
	Muhlenberg 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±$18kHighest 51% above PA	$88,069±$7kLowest 13% above PA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$339,500±$18kHighest 33% above PA	$233,300±$11kLowest 8% below PA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,620±$698Highest 34% above PA	$1,492±$193Lowest 23% above PA
	Bern and Muhlenberg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,265Highest 59% above PA	$4,260Lowest 29% above PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±28.8Highest PA: 48.2%	47.3%±13.1Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Bern and Muhlenberg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest PA: 11.7%	7.6%Highest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86%Highest PA: 69.3%	82.8%Lowest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 5 yrs newer than PA	1969Lowest 4 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below PA	23 minLowest 14% below PA
Work from home	12.3%±6.1Highest PA: 15.6%	8%±1.9Lowest PA: 15.6%
	Bern and Muhlenberg 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	—	#724 of 764 in PA
School district	Berks Career and Technology Center	Muhlenberg SD · Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center
High school in town	Berks Career and Technology Center-West Campus	Muhlenberg HS
Students per teacherat that high school	0.7Lowest	17.3Highest
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.